AT&T to throttle unlimited data plan users...

[spd2demun ACE - Master]

Someone mentioned this seems to be happening in larger metro areas, or those that have 4G/LTE rollouts.

Any confirmed correlation?

[seajohn]

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wingrider01 wrote:

find it interesting that people are complaining about something that they would hav been aware of if they just actually read what they where agreeing to when they put thier John Hancock unders words that pretyy well saya " I have fully read and I fully understand the stated terms of agreement and will accept them and their restrictions"  Would be surprised that any politican would get involved with something like this, especially given the amount fo corproate money that is added to their super pac funding for election.

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I keep asking for, but still haven't received, the verbiage in the contract for the grandfathered plans that allows AT&T to do this.  I'm not talking about the contract that is on the AT&T website; that one isn't the same one. 

Where do the contracts that the unlimited folks signed say that AT&T can reduce the unlimited data to unusable data rates???

Let's see it!

[4sskyrocket]

Show me too!....

[mercdizzle]

I'm in a LTE area and have been throttled.

[Dellman87]

me too.

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mercdizzle wrote:

I'm in a LTE area and have been throttled.

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[4sskyrocket]

This statement doesn't sound right.


"But he also said the company doesn't actually throttle all of the top 5 percent "unlimited" data users"

[isurus]

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formercanuck wrote:

I had my line (3G throttled at 2GB over the past 2 months, and restored at start of billing cycle).

Since AT&T claims that the throtting bar is limited to the top 5%, and that bar has 'dropped' to 2GB due to throttling (CS told me it won't go below 2GB), we must (as the 5%) attempt to 'raise the bar' by disabling WiFi  after being throttled to attempt to bring the cap to a more sane usage.

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yes, that's what i'm doing ... download speed is cap to .10kbps ... unload speed is uncapped ... so run bit torrent 24/7 to drive up the usage

[Doc123]

Wow guys. Just want you to know, I'm not an at&t user... never have been (never will be) but after reading today about the ridiculous "throttling" of unlimited plans... I just had to sign up to voice my opinion here.

How horrible is it for them to play the game... well... we said it was unlimited, but we never said how fast the network was going to be. Well that's funny, because they've been promoting their 4G LTE for quite a while now... bragging about it's unreal speed... and so their "solution" to people that use the product they pay for is to throttle them down to 1% of the networks capability? Talk about a nasty way to treat their customers... absolutely disgusting.

I think most people can understand in certain areas (around cities) there may be too great a demand during certain times, where throttling is necessary... but from what I read today, once you are "throttled" it's for the duration of the cycle or month. That means, from 1 am to 4 am, when nobody is on the darn network you are still throttled. I mean... REALLY??? What's the point... to tick off your customers??? I'm ticked off and I'm not even your customer. This is so beyond wrong it's unreal... I hope there is a boycott coming and at&t loses BIG. 

I've been a Verizon customer (small business and personal cell phones) for about 15 years but decided last month not to renew this month... going with Virgin Mobile with the Motorola Triumph... the fastest smart phone on a pre-paid plan to date. It will be using Sprint's 3G network... but I don't think it will be "throttled"... but who knows... maybe they will too? I did read in these articles that Verizon, while they throttle the top users too... they are much smarter about it, in that they only throttle back the speed some (like half speed... not 1% speed like at&t) and that it's not for the entire cycle, but only until the network can support a higher speed and you get back all the speed minutes or hours later.

BOOOOOOO at&t... you S. U. C. K with a capital S.

[Doc123]

Oh... I just read that the throttling is so bad that webpages that your phone can usually download in a minute, take about two minutes... WOW... I would be wanting someone's head on a platter if I were an at&t user.

[Doc123]

Dang it... I meant downloads that take a SECOND... will take about two minutes.

[aristizzle]

6.2 What Are The Intended Purposes Of The Wireless Data Service?

Except as may otherwise be specifically permitted or prohibited for select data plans, data sessions may be conducted only for the following purposes: (i) Internet browsing; (ii) email; and (iii) intranet access (including access to corporate intranets, email, and individual productivity applications like customer relationship management, sales force, and field service automation). While most common uses for Internet browsing, email and intranet access are permitted by your data plan, there are certain uses that cause extreme network capacity issues and interference with the network and are therefore prohibited. Examples of prohibited uses include, without limitation, the following: (i) server devices or host computer applications, including, but not limited to, Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, automated machine-to-machine connections or peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing; (ii) as a substitute or backup for private lines, wireline s or full-time or dedicated data connections; (iii) "auto-responders," "cancel-bots," or similar automated or manual routines which generate excessive amounts of net traffic, or which disrupt net user groups or email use by others; (iv) "spam" or unsolicited commercial or bulk email (or activities that have the effect of facilitating unsolicited commercial email or unsolicited bulk email); (v) any activity that adversely affects the ability of other people or systems to use either AT&T's wireless services or other parties' Internet-based resources, including "denial of service" (DoS) attacks against another network host or individual user; (vi) accessing, or attempting to access without authority, the accounts of others, or to penetrate, or attempt to penetrate, security measures of AT&T's wireless network or another entity's network or systems; (vii) software or other devices that maintain continuous active Internet connections when a computer's connection would otherwise be idle or any "keep alive" functions, unless they adhere to AT&T's data retry requirements, which may be changed from time to time. This means, by way of example only, that checking email, surfing the Internet, downloading legally acquired songs, and/or visiting corporate intranets is permitted, but downloading movies using P2P file sharing services, redirecting television signals for viewing on Personal Computers, web broadcasting, and/or for the operation of servers, telemetry devices and/or Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition devices is prohibited. Furthermore, plans (unless specifically designated for tethering usage) cannot be used for any applications that tether the device (through use of, including without limitation, connection kits, other phone/smartphone to computer accessories, BLUETOOTH® or any other wireless technology) to Personal Computers (including without limitation, laptops), or other equipment for any purpose. Accordingly, AT&T reserves the right to (i) deny, disconnect, modify and/or terminate Service, without notice, to anyone it believes is using the Service in any manner prohibited or whose usage adversely impacts its wireless network or service levels or hinders access to its wireless network, including without limitation, after a significant period of inactivity or after sessions of excessive usage and (ii) otherwise protect its wireless network from harm, compromised capacity or degradation in performance, which may impact legitimate data flows. You may not send solicitations to AT&T's wireless subscribers without their consent. You may not use the Services other than as intended by AT&T and applicable law. Plans are for individual, non-commercial use only and are not for resale. AT&T may, but is not required to, monitor your compliance, or the compliance of other subscribers, with AT&T's terms, conditions, or policies.

The entire wireless customer agreement is viewable Here

[spd2demun ACE - Master]

I just had a thought, all of this seemed to start after the major LTE/4G rollouts, right?

Faster speed uses up more b/w quicker, thus people are getting notified sooner?

We figured this out on the TV side, that if you went with a faster HSI, you'd meet your cap sooner.  Though, at this time, they still have not turned on the monitor (only for regular DSL).

[Doc123]

We get your "fine print" means at&t can do whatever the heck they want.

You're missing the point.

The point is, you sell a product by telling everyone it's the best thing around... it's unlimited and it's the fastest speed around... and then you yank it back to your biggest customers.

The best policy wouldn't be to cut back services to your customers ridiculously low purposely just to tick them off, but to do what Verizon does... and limit them only when necessesary and only cut them back at about half speed, unless you really needed to limit them more. But to limit them to 1 percent... and then to do it for the remainder of the cycle when there is no need when the network basically has nobody on it at night???

In my opinion, with your "read the fine print" attitude... you're going to lose a TON of people. But yeah... technically... fine print and all... you're correct.

[aristizzle]

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Doc123 wrote:

We get your "fine print" means at&t can do whatever the heck they want.

You're missing the point.

The point is, you sell a product by telling everyone it's the best thing around... it's unlimited and it's the fastest speed around... and then you yank it back to your biggest customers.

The best policy wouldn't be to cut back services to your customers ridiculously low purposely just to tick them off, but to do what Verizon does... and limit them only when necessesary and only cut them back at about half speed, unless you really needed to limit them more. But to limit them to 1 percent... and then to do it for the remainder of the cycle when there is no need when the network basically has nobody on it at night???

In my opinion, with your "read the fine print" attitude... you're going to lose a TON of people. But yeah... technically... fine print and all... you're correct.

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Doc123 someone earlier in the thread was asking where it stated that service can be throttled, hence my post.

[Doc123]

Good thing at&t doesn't own a chain of all-you-can-eat buffets.

"Well, techincally it's all-you-can-eat, but after the first plate all food must be carried back to your seat on a quarter."  

[Ludatyk]

From the agreement the most important factor you can take from it is they have the right to do anything in regards to their so called "network." But as a customer I would hope they have proof and some type of truth in the matter of who, when, and where to throttle. And they are absolutely not being conscious in the way they are dealing with this matter. They haven't actually thought this through. It's not a good move on their front and definitely not a good business move to your long standing customer. Because if it actually was.. their wouldn't be such a negative aspect in this matter. Of course, they have every "right" to do what is necessary for their network. Just like I have a "right" to do what I feel is necessary as a customer to decide whom I want to do business with...

[Doc123]

"Throttle" is a good word to use here... because that's exactly what I'd want to do to at&t employees if I was limited to 1% capability of a network I paid ridiculously good money to use.

Good luck at&t users... sounds like you're going to need it.

[Dellman87]

If Verizon offerd this idea I'd switch in a HEARTBEAT.

Prove that you ( an AT&T customer ) has an unlimited data plan, we ( Verizon ) Will offer you the same unlimited data plan if you agree to a 2 year agreement.

Yes, I know Verizon doesn't offer it anymore, but if they did, I'd switch.

[StopUrEvilWays]

Me too. I've been with ATT for 15 years. Cmon Verizon,do us a favor!

[StopUrEvilWays]

I was overjoyed at finally getting a real LTE/4G signal.. Now I'm whacked down to 13kbs! I was getting 15-20 MBs up & down! This policy is too arbitrary and not thought out.

[seajohn]

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aristizzle wrote:

6.2 What Are The Intended Purposes Of The Wireless Data Service?

While most common uses for Internet browsing, email and intranet access are permitted by your data plan, there are certain uses that cause extreme network capacity issues and interference with the network and are therefore prohibited ...

<Examples of prohibited activities>

 ...Accordingly, AT&T reserves the right to (i) deny, disconnect, modify and/or terminate Service, without notice, to anyone it believes is using the Service in any manner prohibited or whose usage adversely impacts its wireless network or service levels or hinders access to its wireless network, including without limitation, after a significant period of inactivity or after sessions of excessive usage and (ii) otherwise protect its wireless network from harm, compromised capacity or degradation in performance, which may impact legitimate data flows.

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Is that the exact same wording which was in place while the unlimited accounts were offered?

To my reading, the purpose of section 6.2 is to specify prohibited activies  (using the data connection as a server, hacking, P2P, etc.)  which you may not use your data plan for.   If you are using your phone for any of these activites, we (AT&T) reserve the right to cut you off. Nowhere does it talk about using too much data.  It explicitly states "most common uses for Internet browsing, email and intranet access are permitted by your data plan" with no mention of usage limits.

Where the section refers to "certain uses that cause extreme network capacity issues and interference with the network and are therefore prohibited" this is clearly talking about the list of prohibited activities, not 'overuse' of the network.

For AT&T to be saying that unlimited users who reach 2GB 'adversely impact' its network according to the above section makes no sense, given that for the same monthly cost AT&T allows tiered users to consume 3GB.

[Doc123]

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seajohn wrote:

For AT&T to be saying that unlimited users who reach 2GB 'adversely impact' its network according to the above section makes no sense, given that for the same monthly cost AT&T allows tiered users to consume 3GB.

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Yeah... you would think if you had the "unlimited plan" it would mean you'd get more data at a high rate... but apparently not so.

I was reading the article today (it was CNN or FOX NEWS .com) that said those at&t customers who called up and complained after getting "throttled" after using just over 2 GBs were told by at&t they should switch to one of the plans that are good for 3 or 4 GBs. Ummm... WHAT??? Let me get this right... unlimited means LESS THAN 3 or 4??? I thought unlimited was similiar to infinite.

So apparently at&t thinks 3 or 4 GBs is MORE THAN an infinite amount of GBs... makes sense.

And again... we get the reality of the fine print (in the contract) is at&t is giving unlimited "access to the network"... just not it's speed. Funny though... how those with 3 or 4 GB plans get access to the speed longer than someone with unlimited (which you would assume... incorrectly I might add) would be the better plan.

[aristizzle]

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Doc123 wrote:

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seajohn wrote:

For AT&T to be saying that unlimited users who reach 2GB 'adversely impact' its network according to the above section makes no sense, given that for the same monthly cost AT&T allows tiered users to consume 3GB.

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Yeah... you would think if you had the "unlimited plan" it would mean you'd get more data at a high rate... but apparently not so.

I was reading the article today (it was CNN or FOX NEWS .com) that said those at&t customers who called up and complained after getting "throttled" after using just over 2 GBs were told by at&t they should switch to one of the plans that are good for 3 or 4 GBs. Ummm... WHAT??? Let me get this right... unlimited means LESS THAN 3 or 4??? I thought unlimited was similiar to infinite.

So apparently at&t thinks 3 or 4 GBs is MORE THAN an infinite amount of GBs... makes sense.

And again... we get the reality of the fine print (in the contract) is at&t is giving unlimited "access to the network"... just not it's speed. Funny though... how those with 3 or 4 GB plans get access to the speed longer than someone with unlimited (which you would assume... incorrectly I might add) would be the better plan.

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You misinterpreted it Doc, AT&T is recommending to swtich to the tiered data plans if speed is an importance. On the Unlimited data plans, you arent cut off your speeds are just reduced. You can still use unlimited amount of data, just not at full speed when throttled. Tiered plans are not throttled as you pay for your overages, therefore you are able to maintain full network speed.

[aristizzle]

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seajohn wrote:

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aristizzle wrote:

6.2 What Are The Intended Purposes Of The Wireless Data Service?

While most common uses for Internet browsing, email and intranet access are permitted by your data plan, there are certain uses that cause extreme network capacity issues and interference with the network and are therefore prohibited ...

<Examples of prohibited activities>

 ...Accordingly, AT&T reserves the right to (i) deny, disconnect, modify and/or terminate Service, without notice, to anyone it believes is using the Service in any manner prohibited or whose usage adversely impacts its wireless network or service levels or hinders access to its wireless network, including without limitation, after a significant period of inactivity or after sessions of excessive usage and (ii) otherwise protect its wireless network from harm, compromised capacity or degradation in performance, which may impact legitimate data flows.

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Is that the exact same wording which was in place while the unlimited accounts were offered?

To my reading, the purpose of section 6.2 is to specify prohibited activies  (using the data connection as a server, hacking, P2P, etc.)  which you may not use your data plan for.   If you are using your phone for any of these activites, we (AT&T) reserve the right to cut you off. Nowhere does it talk about using too much data.  It explicitly states "most common uses for Internet browsing, email and intranet access are permitted by your data plan" with no mention of usage limits.

Where the section refers to "certain uses that cause extreme network capacity issues and interference with the network and are therefore prohibited" this is clearly talking about the list of prohibited activities, not 'overuse' of the network.

For AT&T to be saying that unlimited users who reach 2GB 'adversely impact' its network according to the above section makes no sense, given that for the same monthly cost AT&T allows tiered users to consume 3GB.

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It's not going to read "if you use too much data we are going to throttle you". If you take the time to read it and analyze what it says, it is saying that if you are using the data excessively AT&T has the right to modify your service (throttle).

[Doc123]

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aristizzle wrote:

You misinterpreted it Doc, AT&T is recommending to swtich to the tiered data plans if speed is an importance. On the Unlimited data plans, you arent cut off your speeds are just reduced. You can still use unlimited amount of data, just not at full speed when throttled. Tiered plans are not throttled as you pay for your overages, therefore you are able to maintain full network speed.

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I haven't misinterpreted anything. This is all semantics... and word games.

You know someone that has an unlimited plan should deserve better treatment or service than someone without it. To slow the stream down to levels that make it basically unusable (from what I've heard from MANY users)... means they aren't getting unlimited. Even IF somehow you could prove that ALL of the throttled users are getting a stream that is just fast enough to support a browser to open a web window in two or three minutes, it is ruining the enjoyment of having a smart phone. 

"You can still use unlimited amounts of data... just not at full speed"... when you have an unlimited plan.

"Tiered plans are not throttled"... because we want to make more money.

There by... at&t is attempting to force people who have unlimited plans into dropping them to get better service so their smart phones actually function properly. That's horrible... and again... I'm not even an at&t user... I'm just shocked at this policy is all.

Aristizzle... Do you not agree that it's switch and bait to advertise super fast 4G LTE speeds and say the plans are unlimited... and then yank it out from under the customers feet? 

I think anyone will agree sometimes speeds will have to be reduced, otherwise the system won't be able to function properly. But why the heck keep them throttled, even when they leave the area where there was heavy usage (like a city) OR when the network has died down at non-peak hours? I really don't get it.

The only way it makes any sense is if at&t is bent on forcing everyone off the unlimited plans they "grandfathered" by making the people miserable on them.

Here's what I propose to you... IF after two years, there's still 50,000 unlimited users on your network, you send all of their data and text in a different language? That'll teach them to use the unlimited plan and try and get a good deal.

Get real.

[Edited to comply with Guidelines]

[Doc123]

Even IF somehow you could prove that ALL of the throttled users are getting a stream that is just fast enough to support a browser to open a web window in two or three minutes, it is ruining the enjoyment of having a smart phone.

_______________________________________________________________

After looking at what I wrote there... I think that best explains what is wrong with this whole thing.

The entire reason people have Smart Phones is to cruise the Internet and download games, music, movies... stuff. They didn't buy their Smart Phones to watch a webpage struggle to come up bit by bit over two plus minutes. It's frustrating enough to watch a computer do that, which NOW only usually happens when your computer has some sort of virus.

Are you saying at&t is a virus? Because slowing down the stream to that slow is comparable to what a virus does.

I can see no matter what I say, there is no way you're going to admit any wrong doing on the part of at&t... because you're an employee... or because you've been specifically assigned to babysit this site and regurgitate the B . S. over and over and over again. I don't know... maybe you're practicing your B. S . speech for the customers you'll encounter on the phone tomorrow.

Anyway... that's it... I'm done... rant over.

So glad I'm not an at&t user!

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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seajohn wrote:

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wingrider01 wrote:

find it interesting that people are complaining about something that they would hav been aware of if they just actually read what they where agreeing to when they put thier John Hancock unders words that pretyy well saya " I have fully read and I fully understand the stated terms of agreement and will accept them and their restrictions"  Would be surprised that any politican would get involved with something like this, especially given the amount fo corproate money that is added to their super pac funding for election.

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I keep asking for, but still haven't received, the verbiage in the contract for the grandfathered plans that allows AT&T to do this.  I'm not talking about the contract that is on the AT&T website; that one isn't the same one. 

Where do the contracts that the unlimited folks signed say that AT&T can reduce the unlimited data to unusable data rates???

Let's see it!

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the verbage has been posted numerous times, look for it in the thousands of threads and responses that have been made. I don't don;t do research for free especially on subjects that the end user should have read and understood before signing

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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seajohn wrote:

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aristizzle wrote:

6.2 What Are The Intended Purposes Of The Wireless Data Service?

While most common uses for Internet browsing, email and intranet access are permitted by your data plan, there are certain uses that cause extreme network capacity issues and interference with the network and are therefore prohibited ...

<Examples of prohibited activities>

 ...Accordingly, AT&T reserves the right to (i) deny, disconnect, modify and/or terminate Service, without notice, to anyone it believes is using the Service in any manner prohibited or whose usage adversely impacts its wireless network or service levels or hinders access to its wireless network, including without limitation, after a significant period of inactivity or after sessions of excessive usage and (ii) otherwise protect its wireless network from harm, compromised capacity or degradation in performance, which may impact legitimate data flows.

---

Is that the exact same wording which was in place while the unlimited accounts were offered?

To my reading, the purpose of section 6.2 is to specify prohibited activies  (using the data connection as a server, hacking, P2P, etc.)  which you may not use your data plan for.   If you are using your phone for any of these activites, we (AT&T) reserve the right to cut you off. Nowhere does it talk about using too much data.  It explicitly states "most common uses for Internet browsing, email and intranet access are permitted by your data plan" with no mention of usage limits.

Where the section refers to "certain uses that cause extreme network capacity issues and interference with the network and are therefore prohibited" this is clearly talking about the list of prohibited activities, not 'overuse' of the network.

For AT&T to be saying that unlimited users who reach 2GB 'adversely impact' its network according to the above section makes no sense, given that for the same monthly cost AT&T allows tiered users to consume 3GB.

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 again - does not really matter, it is a grandfathered feature that has no bearing on your current agreement states, the terms apply across the board  ( ...Accordingly, AT&T reserves the right to (i) deny, disconnect, modify and/or terminate Service ).  they really need to sunset this fiasco of a grandfathered like they did the "no data plan required for  smartphones" in 2009, that would end it once and for all.

[acemonster]

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/att-customers-surprised-unlimited-data-limit-15571937#.Tz...

ABC news reported this last night on television. The more exposure this gets, the easier it will be for us to fight it.

[mercdizzle]

It's simple.  Either they'll drop this throttling crap, or I'll drop them.  Consumers have the power to voice their opinion, and I'll do just that- with my pocketbook.