Do not accept less. CNET scan: 63 % of adults pay more for unreliable internet service

If you seem to pay more for the Internet every year, you are not alone. According to a new CNET survey, 63 % of adults who pay for home internet have increased their prices last year. On average, they paid $ 195 last year than they did in the previous year.

The price height has not necessarily translated into a better service as well. More than half of the people who saw the increase in their bills said they were still suffering from unreliable connection.

The scanning results come in a moment charged with the broadcasting industry in the United States. The federal government has devoted More than 90 billion dollars To close this digital gap since the Covid-19 pandemic, the Trump administration has expressed its patience with the results. It is said that he is looking for Money turns away from the internet fiber And about the Internet online service from Elon Musk, which He has some concerned experts About its monthly price of $ 120.

“If it is not affordable, this is not accessible,” he said. Sean GunsalvizDirector of Communication with the Da`wa Group, the local self -accommodation institute.

Customers have taken a number of steps to deal with high prices, including reducing the classification to a cheaper plan, switching service providers, or completely canceling the service. We have asked experts the best advice on how to deal with these issues.

Most people saw the increase in their internet bill last year

Price increases are routine for Internet customers, with 63 % of American adults who report higher bills than the previous year. On average, they paid $ 195 more than the previous year.

Trey Paul, the large wide wide range editor in CNET, does not find it surprising. “This number of $ 195 may be amazing at the beginning, but when you think that many Internet service providers increase their monthly prices by $ 20 to $ 50 after the attractive promotional price, this is logical. I am in fact a little surprised.”

CNET analysis to increase prices One of the largest Internet service providers in the country, it was found that the monthly prices are $ 50 with service providers such as Special after one year. These high prices have not necessarily translated into better performance, although 51 % of customers who saw their bills are still unreliable online.

In many cases, customers do not even know that the price of their plan rises until they see the highest number of their bills. Jonathan Xuantis, chief political consultant in consumer reports, helped to lead Analysis of more than 22,000 internet bill In 2022.

“Some of the bills we collected incredibly complicated,” he said. “In thousands of cases, it is extremely difficult for people to know what they pay for it, what hidden fees mean or even specify the price of the Internet service.”

Some of this ambiguity was erased last year, when the Federal Communications Committee began to claim Internet service providers View the main information on their plans In “bold feeding signs.”

When you shop for internet plans, look for a button that says “broadband facts” or “width of broadband stickers”. Each law provider is required to show you whether your bill will increase after the preliminary rate expires and the amount of the amount. You will also see any Other fees This will appear on your bill, such as equipment or installation fee.

2 out of 5 users testing unreliable internet service

42 % of adults of this poll said they suffered from speeds or unreliable communication last year, but the reliability level varies on the basis of income.

High income levels were associated with greater reliability, according to the survey. 57 % of adults with an annual income of more than 80,000 dollars had no communication problems at all last year, compared to 45 % with an income of less than $ 40,000.

Lynnette White, 77, told me the Internet in her big building, which used to go out at the same time every day.

She said, “It was very frustrated and stressed because you were in the middle of something.”

The respondents said that the areas that are often affected by the Internet are unreliable are the ability to access entertainment (31 %), work from home (19 %), payment bills (18 %), stay in contact with family and friends (16 %), keep pace with current events and news developments (13 %).

This access to entertainment may seem like luxury, but it seems to be an essential lifestyle for Internet users you spoke to. Felis Jackson, a retired administrative assistant in Monroville, Pennsylvania, told me that she is thinking about a computer like her best friend at times.

“I would like to see people talking, and since I live alone, I love to hear voices. It seems more personal,” she said. “At my life and live alone, if I cannot access the Internet computer, this would really bother me.”

6 % of the respondents said that virtual education opportunities were affected by the disturbances in access to the Internet last year. Amina FadlallahThe head of the call to technical policy in the logical media told me that these statistics were especially worrying about them.

She said: “We know that for students, if you face a bad service or unreliable service, there will be possibilities, so this opportunity will be lost to involve this student in this resource.” “Once you lose it, it is difficult to restore.”

The high costs of users were forced to cancel or reduce the service

These price increases had a material impact on Internet users. The poll shows that one in five American adults are paying for access to the Internet, they had to back down to a cheaper plan, switching service providers due to high costs or completely canceling their service. Only one in 10 tried to negotiate their bill.

Fadlallah said: “One of the things we are concerned about is to see the results specifically about the need to cancel or reduce the classification to a low -cost plan.” “All your daily needs – many of them pass through the Internet, and know that people lose access in particular.”

Karen Kama, 68, told me in Reding, Pennsylvania, that she is because she is on a fixed income, so that the increase in small prices will force her to completely cancel services. Early this year, the low -income internet plan of Xfinity increased from $ 10 to $ 15 a month.

“If they go up again, I will close it,” Kama said.

It is well documented that the ability to withstand costs is the main reason because most people do not have home internet. According to 2021 Pew Research Center survey20 % of people who do not have a subscription on the Internet, the cost of cost as a major reason – the highest answer and more than twice the number that he said was not available.

Users feel the effect of ACP

The CNET survey also sheds light on the impact of the end of the communication program at reasonable prices, a monthly support of $ 30 that helped low -income families to pay against the internet closed in mid -2014. 12 % of the respondents said they saw the increase in their bills last year after the benefit ended.

“The demise of ACP was harmful to many and I think this is reflected in these numbers,” he said. Christopher AliProfessor of Communications at Pennsylvania State University.

By the time the Federal Communications Committee ACP enrollment is over In February 2024, 23 million Americans Join. Before the program for living families in or less than 200 % of Federal poverty instructionsOr $ 60,000 in the annual income of a family of four last year.

What you can do if your bill rises

First, it is important to pay attention to your bills. If you have an automatic payment, it is easy to lose the high -price track. Here are some other tactics:

Negotiate with your internet service provider

Many of us have done this song and dance before: Our internet promotion is running out at the end of the year, so we communicate with our provider Negotiate on a better deal. These days, you may have to start a chat online, which is often used artificial intelligence. (Here are some Tips for using artificial intelligence In your negotiations.

Lower your plan

It may not He needs a lot of speed You also think you are doing for most people, 100 MB per second is a lot for high -resolution flow calls and video calls. To check the amount you currently get, you can run fast Speed ​​test From any connected device. If you have less than dozens of connected devices at any time, but you get more than 200 megabytes per second, you may consider reducing the limit to a slower plan.

Switching Internet service providers

If the negotiations reach a dead end, you should be ready to stay away from a bad ISP relationship. This can be a hard possibility – no one wants to stumble without the Internet while waiting for your new service to start – but it can be one of the most effective ways to save money on your internet bill. This is because most of the service providers offer excellent Deals for new customers And some even Buy your old contract. To find out what is available in your area, enter your address on FCC wide range map And know other options available to you.

Buy your equipment

Most Internet service providers earn between $ 10 and $ 15 in equipment fee, but you can buy your own Wi-Fi Router For less than $ 100. It is a slightly presented investment, but it usually pays the price of itself in the first year and the Internet bill will be much cheaper. I tried this myself two years ago and ended up providing $ 180 a year.

methodology

Cent Yougov PLC costs a wiping. All numbers, unless otherwise, from Yougov PLC. The total sample size reached 2,367 adults of them 2,304 who have access to the Internet at home and 1916 payment for home internet. Field work was carried out from 19 to 21 March 2025. The online survey was conducted. The numbers were weighed and represent all American adults (between 18+).