Cox Cable - Data Usage Fees Are Here!!!

This is in reply to a question about Comcast's 250 GB data cap.

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Netflix Movies (HD): These guys are around 3.8Mbit, which means it's about 3600MB for a 2 hour HD movie.
Netflix Movies (SD): Each of these movies are around 500-700MB each, depending on the length of the movie.
Netflix TV Shows (HD): A 30-minute TV show will be about 1500MB.
Netflix TV Shows (SD): A 30-minute TV show will be about 400MB.

If you do the math, that means you can stream about 3 seasons of Entourage and 40 movies in HD. However, that's not to account for standard Internet usage, so with YouTube, Facebook, and all of the other things you and your household may use, that's looking to drop the number down to about 20 HD movies, which is still a substantial amount for most people.

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LINK

So according to this math you'd be able to watch 4-5 HD movies on NetFlix if you have a 50GB cap. It's definitely not compatible with swapping cable TV for NetFlix and Hulu which is probably the point of the pricing tiers.

The tiered system has been in place since last October. At least that's how far back I've been able to see my usage. If the email didn't have overage charges what did it say?

It appears they have been keeping usage numbers since January, yet today was the first notice of a change in pricing. Seems like they would have given some notice.

Based on the past graphs, I am always close to 50gb a month. They do not explain what happens if you go over or how much you will be hit for if you go over which is crap. If they want to implement a new pricing structure then they damned well better have it clearly explained.

Got this today.

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Dear Cox High Speed Internet Customer,

We'd like to take this opportunity to announce the availability of the Data Usage Meter. This new feature provides an easy way to check monthly household high-speed Internet data usage at any time. Monthly data usage is the amount of data that users send, receive, download or upload each month for movies and videos, photos, web surfing, email, gaming, and other files.

Each of our packages has a specific data usage amount. The amount depends on your Cox High Speed Internet package and corresponds to the speeds provided with the package. Our speediest package provides the highest usage amount. You are currently subscribed to the Preferred Package which has a monthly data usage amount of 200 Gigabytes (GB). This is equivalent to streaming about 110 standard definition movies, or 66 high definition movies in a month*.

The vast majority of our customers do not exceed their usage amount in a month and Cox does not charge you an additional fee if you exceed it. However, if you find that you are exceeding the usage amount for your package, you should check for the following potential causes:

An unsecured wireless home network. If your wireless router does not have security enabled, others outside your home may be using your Internet service. Cox provides a free tool to test the security of your home network. The Home Network Security Check can be accessed by logging into your account via myaccount.cox.net which will place you into Internet Tools. From there, simply select the Home Network tab

A computer virus. If your computer is infected with a virus, it may be transmitting large amounts of data without your knowledge. Cox strongly advocates Internet safety and security. That's why we offer all of our High Speed Internet customers free security software that will help protect your computers. Cox Security Suite Powered by McAfee® will shield you from many viruses, spam, phishing and spyware. It even comes with parental controls.

To download your copy in just a few minutes, simply visit myaccount.cox.net and select the Security Suite tab in Internet Tools.

If after checking for these problems you find that you are still exceeding the usage amount, you may want to consider upgrading to another package that more closely matches your use of the service. Cox's top High Speed Internet package includes 400 GB per month.

To view your current data usage, follow these easy steps:
1. Visit myaccount.cox.net
2. Sign in with your primary Cox username and password
3. Select the "Data Usage Allowance" tab on the left bar

The Data Usage Meter shows daily and monthly usage for your account starting with the beginning of your billing period. The monthly view shows the usage by month determined by the date of the end of your billing period. Over time, you will be able to see your household usage over the previous 12 months. The Data Usage Meter is only available to primary account users and secondary user accounts with billing access.

If you would like to learn more about the Data Usage Meter and how it works, please click here. To view the Cox High Speed Internet Acceptable Use Policy please visit.

You can also contact your local Cox customer service center for more information. Visit to find your local Cox contact number.

Thank you for choosing Cox

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By the way, it has not been in place since October of last year. The FCC did not pass the new regulations until late December of 2010.

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I've known that I had 250GB to use since October 2010. They weren't charging if you went over but they've had the tiers set since then. They just may start charging if you go over now. Also if I log into my account and go to my connection then internet I have no options under internet tools like used to. Anyone else having an issue seeing their usage?

ETA: Based on the email that SaintEB posted that has been known since before December 2010.

got the same email today

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Based on the email that SaintEB posted that has been known since before December 2010.

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It doesn't matter if it was known and they couldn't charge for it. The actual plan can't go into effect BEFORE the regulation is passed.

It just shows that they knew they had the votes to get the FCC to change the regulation so they were ready once the rule was changed.

And once again, as you can see from the other posters, it did not kick in until this month as all of the emails only NOW indicate.

Yes, we all knew it was coming and as I said, it is here now.

Plus that email says that preferred users will not be charged for going over at this time but says nothing about lower tiers.

The FAQ states you should change your plan if you go over but doesn't explain penalties or pricing. So it seems, they are putting things in place but haven't decided how to handle everything yet.

The link from the email pulled up an entirely new page to manage your account so maybe they haven't set the link in the right place yet on the normal start page.

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Once you log in, look for "Internet" and that takes you to the management page which has the data meter. It is to the right of "My Account".

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Do you have options under internet tools? Thats where I used to see my usage but now I don't have to option to see it.

Thankfully I have the Preferred package. I'm nowhere close to my 200GB limit