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

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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pucs wrote:

The bottom line is AT&T is doing extreme throttling on it's unlimited data customers at 2GB's to encourage them to give up that plan in favor of the 30.00 3gb tiered plan. They can't just eliminate the grandfathered unlimited data plans because then they would be changing terms on their own contract and that would be the out customers would get to avoid the ETF's. Also this is truly a NET-Neutrality issue because AT&T is no longer providing access to all aspects of the internet when they put into place their extreme throttling. Your access to all video services is cut-off and that in my opinion is a NET-Neutrality issue. I believe that any complaints that are made in regard to this extreme throttling should also include the Net-Neutrality aspect! All of the throttling is AT&T's way of saying we don't want to continue our grandfathered Unlimited Data Plan but we also don't want to let those customers out of their contracts without an ETF!

"The opinions expressed here are my own opinions only"

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oh yes they can eliminate it, quite easily - they alter the grandfathered clause to include the device that is currently on contract, you upgrade or remove the device the grandfathered status is removed since it is tied to the device. this was done back in 2009 with the "no data plan required for smartphone" features. A grandfathered plan is no longer active and is not subject to change restrictions. Feature changes where never tied to, which is why they where able to grandfather the features in the first place. Lets hope they get smart and sunset it soon 

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

The bottom line is AT&T is doing extreme throttling on it's unlimited data customers at 2GB's to encourage them to give up that plan in favor of the 30.00 3gb tiered plan. They can't just eliminate the grandfathered unlimited data plans because then they would be changing terms on their own contract and that would be the out customers would get to avoid the ETF's. Also this is truly a NET-Neutrality issue because AT&T is no longer providing access to all aspects of the internet when they put into place their extreme throttling. Your access to all video services is cut-off and that in my opinion is a NET-Neutrality issue. I believe that any complaints that are made in regard to this extreme throttling should also include the Net-Neutrality aspect! All of the throttling is AT&T's way of saying we don't want to continue our grandfathered Unlimited Data Plan but we also don't want to let those customers out of their contracts without an ETF!

"The opinions expressed here are my own opinions only"

[Captain Quantum]

wingrider

You cannot convince us that we don't feel cheated. And you can't convince us no matter how many quotes from the TOS you paste that we don't have the right to voice our dissatisfaction with this new policy. You've made it very evident that you are among the around 3 posters that are A OK with this policy. 

Most of us 2.1gb per month "abusers" though however are not ok with it. 

[Please keep it courteous]

[Phil-101]

Hello everyone,

Let's remember to stay on topic. Please avoid any personal attacks or criticism.

While we encourage debates and discussions, we would like it to be carried out in a climate of mutual respect.

Thanks,

Phil-101
Community Moderator Thank you.

[BINMAM]

I must be illiterate because I read the agreement but still didn't equate TOS=Throttle Our Service!

Two words;

[tken]

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BINMAM wrote:

I must be illiterate because I read the agreement but still didn't equate TOS=Throttle Our Service!

Two words;

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AT&T is great in my area, 5gb throttle last month so we'll see how high it goes this cycle.  It's about time someone with AT&T closed this thread thoughl.

[mcow]

I cannot begin to describe how furious I am about this. I just bought the Samsung Skyrocket solely on the fact I wanted the newest and greatest 4G LTE speeds. I had the unlimited plan and specifically asked the salesperson at the store if I could keep my plan which he said yes. If he would have told me I would be throttled down after 2GB and 20 days into my billing cycle I would have not spent the $200 and renewed a 2 year contract. So now for the next 11 days my data is unusable. Will I get a credit for those days? We all know the answer to that. I have been an AT&T customer for 10 years and it is amazing to me that they would do this while trying to get people to buy phones with their new LTE network. When I got the phone I told everyone I knew how awesome the LTE network is. I get 40MB down at work. Well I was. Now I will tell everyone I know NOT to upgrade their phones it’s not worth it because you are just going to get screwed. What sucks the most is there is no predetermined limit. From what I can tell it is just when you are in the top 5% of data users in your area. You get a text then a couple days later you get another one saying you have been throttled down. I wouldn’t be quite as mad if I knew at what point I would be throttled or if they just throttled you down to 3G instead of 500k down.

I admit I am a heavy user I use my phone for work navigation and such but I do not use it to tether. To me it really doesn’t matter what I use it for. I pay for an unlimited data plan and that is what I should get.

Sorry to go so long on my rant but I wanted to vent to fellow upset AT&T customers. I am seriously considering paying my way out of my contract and going to Sprint to get real unlimited data.

[Dellman87]

No! They shouldn't close this thread! Why close something that OBVIOUSLY is a HUGE issue! It's unfair that you get 5GB, when the rest of us are throttled at 2GB! I've never gone over 4GB, ever. One time I reached 3.9 GB bc I was traveling.

My thought - why doesn't AT&T show us what states / areas get throttled. Bc right now, there is no "reward" for not using up my data. There is no rollover, no discount, nothing that would even let me think about not using up my "unlimited" data. So even when I am almost done with my biling cycle, Ill stream YouTube and Netflix to reach the throttle limit and "raise the bar".

No one has given us answers on these main questions:

1) Why offer 3GB to tiered users when you tell us 2GB is "clogging the network"?

2) What areas are congested, and why not just throttle the towers that are being used heavily.

3) If LTE is so amazing, why are you throttling users who use it?

4) Why throttle down to 0,10 mbps , why not 1mbps?

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BINMAM wrote:AT&T is great in my area, 5gb throttle last month so we'll see how high it goes this cycle.  It's about time someone with AT&T closed this thread thoughl.

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[BINMAM]

@Dellman, Just to clarify...

tken wrote:AT&T is great in my area, 5gb throttle last month so we'll see how high it goes this cycle.  It's about time someone with AT&T closed this thread thoughl.

I'm with you Bro

[golfgreg74]

Cut and pasted from Facebook:

ME: Why is the speed being throttled below the lowest offered tier plan? What is the phone being slowed (99% of pre throttled speeds) so much that your phone is essentially worthless. I am sorry, but I pay $30 a month for unlimited date and it is my honest opinion that my speeds should not be slowed unless I breach the 3Gig threshold. At that point, the speed should not be slowed so much that it takes 2 minutes to load a web page...my two cents. Why won't AT&T comment on this.  This page and their community forum represent a small number of people that are upset about this treatment, yet it is ignored...swept under the carpet.

ATT RESPONSE:

Hey Gregory - here's the deal: this policy only affects smartphone customers with an unlimited data plan if their data usage falls within the top 5% of all data users nationwide. But more importantly, we base our actions on a number of loca...l market conditions-such as spectrum, network capacity, and overall local data usage.  So, even if a smartphone customer with an unlimited data plan falls within the top 5% of data users nationwide, it does not necessarily mean that their data speeds will be reduced. Hope that helps. If you have additional questions, be sure to let us know.

MY RESPONSE: I appreciate your response, but that still doesn't address the concerns as to why you are throttling speeds at less than your 3 gig plans.  why should we be throttled at 2 gigs when for the same price people are getting 3 gigs.  That's 1 of my main questions and concerns...

...and that was it.  No response to my response.  AT&T is really ignoring it's customers when it comes to this.

[tken]

Well I guess I won't be getting to 5gb this month. Looks like I'm throttled at 2gb and haven't received every a text message regarding my usage.  Guess it's time to switch to a tiered plan right AT&T?

[Dellman87]

I feel your pain. I got my SkyRocket in December, and I had LTE signal in California so I started to use it.  I got my FIRST ever 5% text during that period. I think within 15 days I was already at 2GB. I didn't really think I did much, but I viewed all the videos and stuff in HD, so I think thats why I reached it so quickly.

As for the Sprint change, I too have thought about it (I didn't re-commit to a 2 year JUST for that reason) but I don't want to move just yet b/c there isn't LTE from Sprint in Colorado yet. When there is, Ill move in a heartbeat. Either that or I hope AT&T will allow true unlimited data again. Its now all about the waiting game.

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Sorry to go so long on my rant but I wanted to vent to fellow upset AT&T customers. I am seriously considering paying my way out of my contract and going to Sprint to get real unlimited data.

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[Dellman87]

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BINMAM wrote:

@Dellman, Just to clarify...

tken wrote:AT&T is great in my area, 5gb throttle last month so we'll see how high it goes this cycle.  It's about time someone with AT&T closed this thread thoughl.

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Thanks for fixing my quote. Ugh, so many people are quoting eachother its hard to follow. I hate putting the entire post in the quote so I try to clean it up when I can. My bad.

[BINMAM]

Time to switch to Sprint!

[tken]

Thus my skyrocket is rendered useless.  I've read on XDA there is a work around to at least get 4g by changing the access point, worth a look now.

[Dellman87]

Already tried every known fix.... Nothing worked. If you can find a fix let me know. I did eveyrthing from APN's to Network HSPA/GSM fixings.  Nothing so far.

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tken wrote:

Thus my skyrocket is rendered useless.  I've read on XDA there is a work around to at least get 4g by changing the access point, worth a look now.

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[tken]

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Dellman87 wrote:

Already tried every known fix.... Nothing worked. If you can find a fix let me know. I did eveyrthing from APN's to Network HSPA/GSM fixings.  Nothing so far.

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APN fix failed and it looks like the only other option that's available I'm not touching or going to mention here just in case watching eyes want to shut that down too.  I'll just do what I always do when throttled, leach as much data as possible 24/7 until the end of my cycle.

[BINMAM]

The throttle occurs on your account so the APN and network settings have no affect, AFAIK.

I am 4 days into my new cycle @ 1.6gbs and still pulling crap speeds.
Support tells me the flag is off on my account as it is a new cycle, but they can't figure out what they did wrong.
Meanwhile...
.23 Mbps down
.09 Mbps up

[kwelker]

BINAM, I'm in the same boat as you, 2 days into my new billing cycle and still at throttled speeds. 

[Dellman87]

I am back onto my new biling cycle as of this morning and I'm on regular speed. Given its only 1Mbps but at least its not 0.10 mbps...

I think 1mbps should be the throttled speed.... *sigh*

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kwelker wrote:

BINAM, I'm in the same boat as you, 2 days into my new billing cycle and still at throttled speeds. 

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[tken]

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Dellman87 wrote:

I am back onto my new biling cycle as of this morning and I'm on regular speed. Given its only 1Mbps but at least its not 0.10 mbps...

I think 1mbps should be the throttled speed.... *sigh*

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But, @ 1Mbps your phone would actually function.  That's not what throtting is all about right? 

[Captain Quantum]

I'm in the same boat as you guys. Just playing the waiting game. Pretty much everyday I see some new media story on this. Remember the petition!

 I would love to have at least somewhat unlimited LTE coverage (eventually) like those at Verizon. I do understand how it's not practical to let people completely suck every drop of bandwidth they can from their plans...however, it seems most of the customers up in arms are being throttled at sub 3gb levels (me 2.1). This for me, flies right in the face of AT&Ts data congestion reasoning. For some reason they've yet to explain, they want us to switch to the 3gb plan. Maybe they are waiting til some number of customers do switch?

At the very least this media attn is very bad for new customer activations. Like I've said before, I don't want to switch. But my leg is wet...and it's not raining so...

[BINMAM]

Thanks for the laugh captain!

"But my leg is wet...and it's not raining so......." HAHAHA!

[Dellman87]

Philip DeFranco, also known as Sxephil on YouTube did a story about this.  Fast forward to the 7 minute mark if you don't want to see the other stuff. Although I didn't skip it. Mmmm Kate Upton... ;-)

Video

[BINMAM]

BTW, incase you all haven't seen the thread regarding being throttle into your new cycle...

I just spent 1.5 hrs on with support and they told me that they are unable to unthrottle some users as of Feb 1st and are working on a fix.

So they can screw us, but can't seem to unscrew us...

[tken]

Wish I could use some of my wife's data right now, monthly she averages 200mb.

[4sskyrocket]

Tken, exactly. Many of us have more then one account. One that is very low in data use. We pay for both. Throttling is not helping anything.

[RevengeOnATNT]

Just a quick back story to this. I've been throttled for two months in a row now.  They start throttling my speed when I reach about 2GB's of usage. Well yesterday I decided to go at this a new way. [Per Guidelines:  Keep it Relevant and Appropriate]. I came up with a new Idea and I've been doing it for two days now. I use my iphone at work to listen to podcasts/pandora/streaming radio while I work.  It helps my day pass and I browse facebook once in a while and also mobile websites. Right now it has practically become impossible and just annoying. However pandora still seems to be able to stream without any problems.

My goal, 10GB a month used even after being throttled. Here is what I started doing.  I listen to multiple comedy podcasts. I can easily download these but I rather be childish and use up the bandwith. I load up a podcast from Itunes that I will be listening to and let it load on my way to work. When I get to work I'll listen to my podcast. During my lunch I will also do the same with my next podcast and I will listen to my podcast after lunch.  When I'm done listening to my podcast I switch over to Pandora and listen to music the rest of the day. Sometimes I get tired of music/radio so I choose silence. At this point I will lower the volume to nothing on Pandora and keep it running.  I'm not listening but I'm still using the bandwith. On my way home from work I will also keep Pandora on and have the volume muted while it runs. When I get home and I'm not using my phone it is doing the same thing. Before I go to sleep I will also load Pandora once again on mute and knockout. I will wake up and repeat this proccess over and over again everyday. (after I reach the throttle stage of my data use)  They started me down two weeks into my month when I reached 2gb now I'm almost at 4GB and I just started doing this two days ago. I will continue to do this and my imaginary war with AT&T will push on. They can throttle me down but I'll still get 10GB of service out them a month. Of course I have easy access to always charge my phone. Thank you AT&T! This might not mean much but I wonder what they would do if lots of people started doing the same?

[isurus]

Download is still capped, trying running a bit torrent services off your phone. Upload is not capped and at times I can upload at 150-170KB per second. Leaving this on for 24/7, I was able to achieve close to 25GB a month.

[tken]

Awwww... Tmobile radios didn't work, curses.

[Dellman87]

This whole throttling thing isn't helping anyone. They have said (in my video posted earlier in this forum) that the network is not congested... They are trying to prevent it from happening, in the future.