Oof! 60 Million fine to AT&T

[USHost247]

Oof! What a hefty fine to AT&T for throttling the unlimited plans once users reached a certain amount of data usage. Did you have AT&T during this timeframe? Did you experience any throttling?

AT&T fined $60 million for throttling ‘unlimited’ data plans

Unlimited should mean unlimited!

www.theverge.com

 

[Joshua Farrell]

Good thing I wasn't on AT&T during that time period. But hey, companies should mention if they are slowing down access, if you get to a certain point on eating through data. The cell phone company that I am using, mentions that the current highest paid plan, they will throttle you back once you hit a data amount on cellular, assuming you are using cellular all the time, and not wifi.

 

[USHost247]

Good thing I wasn't on AT&T during that time period. But hey, companies should mention if they are slowing down access, if you get to a certain point on eating through data. The cell phone company that I am using, mentions that the current highest paid plan, they will throttle you back once you hit a data amount on cellular, assuming you are using cellular all the time, and not wifi.

At least with Verizon, they tell me that if I use more than 50GB (give or take), they will throttle my speed of my unlimited plan.
I think everyone should have the right to know. It's very ethically wrong to hide it from your customer.

 

[Deleted member 7467]

At least with Verizon, they tell me that if I use more than 50GB (give or take), they will throttle my speed of my unlimited plan.
I think everyone should have the right to know. It's very ethically wrong to hide it from your customer.

Correct me if I’m wrong but Verizon doesn’t throttle. They use a prioritization model where after a limit is reached, you fall back in the tower cue allowing others to receive priority signal. You’ll mostly notice a speed difference after your limit in a highly populated area where towers are buskers

 

[USHost247]

Correct me if I’m wrong but Verizon doesn’t throttle. They use a prioritization model where after a limit is reached, you fall back in the tower cue allowing others to receive priority signal. You’ll mostly notice a speed difference after your limit in a highly populated area where towers are buskers

I stand corrected.
You are correct. Verizon deprioritize users using more than 22GBs on their lower unlimited plan and 75GB on their higher unlimited plan.
Depending on the congestion of the tower you are using.

 

[Thomasss]

Correct me if I’m wrong but Verizon doesn’t throttle. They use a prioritization model where after a limit is reached, you fall back in the tower cue allowing others to receive priority signal. You’ll mostly notice a speed difference after your limit in a highly populated area where towers are buskers

I have ATT right now and they use a similar model. After 22GB's, they slow your speeds down in high-traffic areas. I reached 50GB's once (I was traveling) and my internet speed did become slower during some points of the day, however, I did not see much of a change. Nothing is truly unlimited; even web hosts who offer unlimited hosting have the fine print.

 

[Deleted member 7467]

I have ATT right now and they use a similar model. After 22GB's, they slow your speeds down in high-traffic areas. I reached 50GB's once (I was traveling) and my internet speed did become slower during some points of the day, however, I did not see much of a change. Nothing is truly unlimited; even web hosts who offer unlimited hosting have the fine print.

Agreed. It’s shady marketing that’s skirting advertising laws with loopholes. I prefer the prioritization model though as I’d rather be cued differently than have physical throttles places on my account for any period.

 

[TechWiz18]

Ouch...that's no small chunk of money good think that's small in comparison to the companies network of a couple hundred billion. Though...I do have to say I'm a bit shocked that AT&T didn't disclose this.

 

[USHost247]

Ouch...that's no small chunk of money good think that's small in comparison to the companies network of a couple hundred billion. Though...I do have to say I'm a bit shocked that AT&T didn't disclose this.

170.8 billion USD in 2018 revenue. Then minus all of the payroll and other business costs, I wonder what their true net gain was to put this 60 million fine in a better view point.

 

[Thomasss]

170.8 billion USD in 2018 revenue. Then minus all of the payroll and other business costs, I wonder what their true net gain was to put this 60 million fine in a better view point.

Considering they you can fit 2,833 of those 60 million fines to get what they made in a year, I feel like it's a small portion out of their bucket. Maybe no kitchen remodel for their corporate office this year? Lol

 

[USHost247]

Considering they you can fit 2,833 of those 60 million fines to get what they made in a year, I feel like it's a small portion out of their bucket. Maybe no kitchen remodel for their corporate office this year? Lol

From what I can find, fourth-quarter net income attributable to AT&T was $4.9 billion.

 

[Dan The Man]

Considering they you can fit 2,833 of those 60 million fines to get what they made in a year, I feel like it's a small portion out of their bucket. Maybe no kitchen remodel for their corporate office this year? Lol

Exactly. Insignificant amount.

 

[Carlos X]

Yeah, this is a common malpractice of AT&T. They lied to us then, they're still lying now.

Awful service. Awful coverage. You had to give them your SSN, and you have to bend backwards in order to please them.

If you play Multiplayer every day, you'll realize that they throttle your connection.

Glad to see karma bit them in the ass with a 60 Million fine. 🙂

 

[USHost247]

Exactly. Insignificant amount.

Either way you look at it, 60 million is still going to hurt their pockets, as shareholders will see the lawsuit and possibly pull out to soak up some of the lower cost shares.

 

[Carlos X]

Either way you look at it, 60 million is still going to hurt their pockets, as shareholders will see the lawsuit and possibly pull out to soak up some of the lower cost shares.

Yup, exactly. That notwithstanding, there's the PR disaster from this lawsuit. Investors do care about how the public perceives their companies. So, if AT&T is deliberately throttling customers' connections, then it reflects poorly on the company and the brand. Now, they can't use "free" as a marketing ploy anymore. THEY will have to get creative now.

*ahem* Really, Really creative. AT&T just gave T-mobile more leeway with the "free" ploy. They just gave free publicity to T-mobile, essentially.

 

[USHost247]

Yup, exactly. That notwithstanding, there's the PR disaster from this lawsuit. Investors do care about how the public perceives their companies. So, if AT&T is deliberately throttling customers' connections, then it reflects poorly on the company and the brand. Now, they can't use "free" as a marketing ploy anymore. THEY will have to get creative now.

*ahem* Really, Really creative. AT&T just gave T-mobile more leeway with the "free" ploy. They just gave free publicity to T-mobile, essentially.

Absolutely right. The negative PR from this can really hurt way more than just the fine! Someone is getting the end of the paddle this week!