Reno AT&T Bandwith Caps…

Listen up Reno AT&T subscribers! If you haven’t already heard by now AT&T are using Reno as a test bed for their new idea of “Hey, lets get more money from people who use the Internet!” theory.  The limit for downstream usage will be 20 GB per month for DSL users running at 768 Kbps. The limit increases with the speed of the plan, up to 150 GB per month at the 10 Mbps level. They say that users will be able to track their usage online much like cellphone usage.  However, if you got yourself locked into a contract, I would definitely seek to monitor my own bandwidth just to keep the bastards honest. (Perhaps a post in the future!) Now, my advice, take it or leave it, would be to run away from AT&T as fast as you can! Show them that Caps are no fun and go with a company that doesnt. But this may not be easy for some. Example: Elko, NV has Frontier Communications as their phone and Internet service… THATS IT! no competition, no nothing! And to top it off, blazing speeds of 3 Mbps! WOW! Guess how much a month? $50! I pay that much for 16 Mbps in a town with competition! Also, apparently the average Frontier user only uses about 1.5 GB a month, with this logic, they feel the need to beat all the rest at caps and put a lovely 5 GB cap per month. Sickening.

Unfortunately this seems to be the new trend in Internet service. Rather than upgrading their networks to support the mass amounts of data, they would rather stuff their lovely pockets full of cash. Another popular motive is to reduce your speed at high points during the day. This would infuriate me just for the reason that I signed up and pay for it, why not let me have what I pay for?! What next? PAGE limiting?! Someone help us!

Anyways, some more info:
AT&T will gamble with monthly bandwidth caps in Nevada
AT&T To Test Bandwidth Caps For Reno, NV. Customers
AT&T Monthly Bandwidth Caps Are Here
AT&T Experimenting with 150-GB Bandwidth Cap
Frontier’s Explanation – FREE 5GB of Internet Usage

EDIT:
Apparently Charter has it too… But from what I can tell they don’t charge, they just drop you! You are safe, however, if you buy their $140/month 60Mbps plan. Looks like Reno is screwed! What is a boy with his server to do?! GAH!  Thanks to Derek for that one!
More info:
Charter’s Acceptable Use FAQs