Stop broadband companies from charging early termination fees!
- by: Consumers Union
Hate long-term cell phone contracts and hefty cancellation fees? Well, hold on to your wallet, because now high-speed Internet companies are using them.
Most of us have, at best, two choices for high-speed Internet service: our cable and phone companies. Now these companies want to lock you in with hefty termination penalties to prevent you from switching to the other provider even if their service fails to deliver as promised.
Phone companies offer short-term promotional rates for DSL, but often require you to stick with the service for a year or more, even if the promotional price expires during that time. To get out, you might have to pay a fee of up to $200. And some cable companies offer a bundle of broadband, video and phone service, sometimes for a discount, then jack up the price for the remaining services if you cancel one of them during the contract term.
That's not real choice--and it's not real competition. Tell the Federal Communications Commission to put a stop to early termination fees in broadband and give consumers real choice.
Most of us have, at best, two choices for high-speed Internet service: our cable and phone companies. Now these companies want to lock you in with hefty termination penalties to prevent you from switching to the other provider even if their service fails to deliver as promised.
Phone companies offer short-term promotional rates for DSL, but often require you to stick with the service for a year or more, even if the promotional price expires during that time. To get out, you might have to pay a fee of up to $200. And some cable companies offer a bundle of broadband, video and phone service, sometimes for a discount, then jack up the price for the remaining services if you cancel one of them during the contract term.
That's not real choice--and it's not real competition. Tell the Federal Communications Commission to put a stop to early termination fees in broadband and give consumers real choice.
End high fees for broadband cancellation (WC Docket No. 07-52)
Dear FCC,
The Federal Communications Commission should stop broadband companies from locking consumers into long-term contracts with high termination fees.
We're told there's choice in broadband. But most of us have just two options for high speed Internet; our cable or our telephone company. Now those companies want to tie us down with long-term contracts and costly cancellation penalties of up to $200 to stop us from switching to a better service. That's not competition!
Broadband providers usually serve defined territories. I may even have to pay the penalty if I simply move out of their service area. I have always had my phone service and my cable service provided on a month-to-month basis. Now that they also offer broadband, why should I suddenly face complicated long term contracts and high termination fees? None of this makes any sense.
DSL providers routinely require long-term contracts when they offer short-term promotional rates, even if those special rates expire during the contract term. Some of them require contracts for equipment discounts, but charge cancellation penalties that seem much higher than the cost of the equipment.
Meanwhile, cable providers offer discounted bundles of telephone, broadband and video service, but jack up the price for the remaining services if I cancel one of them during the contract term. Why should I pay my own company a fee when their poor service drove me to seek service elsewhere?
It's time for FCC to require broadband companies to compete on quality and price and give me the ability to switch when they fall short.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]
Sign PetitionSign PetitionDear FCC,
The Federal Communications Commission should stop broadband companies from locking consumers into long-term contracts with high termination fees.
We're told there's choice in broadband. But most of us have just two options for high speed Internet; our cable or our telephone company. Now those companies want to tie us down with long-term contracts and costly cancellation penalties of up to $200 to stop us from switching to a better service. That's not competition!
Broadband providers usually serve defined territories. I may even have to pay the penalty if I simply move out of their service area. I have always had my phone service and my cable service provided on a month-to-month basis. Now that they also offer broadband, why should I suddenly face complicated long term contracts and high termination fees? None of this makes any sense.
DSL providers routinely require long-term contracts when they offer short-term promotional rates, even if those special rates expire during the contract term. Some of them require contracts for equipment discounts, but charge cancellation penalties that seem much higher than the cost of the equipment.
Meanwhile, cable providers offer discounted bundles of telephone, broadband and video service, but jack up the price for the remaining services if I cancel one of them during the contract term. Why should I pay my own company a fee when their poor service drove me to seek service elsewhere?
It's time for FCC to require broadband companies to compete on quality and price and give me the ability to switch when they fall short.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]
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