Today, State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) and State Representative David Arconti (D-Danbury), Senate and House Chairs of the Energy and Technology Committee, released the following statements after the announcement that Comcast will not pursue imposing data caps on internet customers in the Northeast in 2022. The publication Light Reading reported this week that Comcast will not activate data caps in the Northeast in 2022, extending an earlier announced delay that initially only ran until the end of 2021. In late 2020, Comcast announced the planned imposition of a 1.2-terabyte monthly data limit on internet customers starting in 2021; Sen. Needleman, Rep. Arconti and Connecticut Attorney General William Tong put significant pressure on the communications company in response, citing the financial issues and consumer-unfriendly practices such a change in policy would represent. Leaders of several northeast states acted similarly. In February 2021, the company delayed such plans, and delayed them further this week.
“It’s extremely encouraging that Comcast is further delaying its introduction of data caps, a practice that harms the consumer and pulls money out of households’ pockets,” said Sen. Needleman. “This policy would impact thousands of Connecticut residents every month and provide significant profits to Comcast if it goes in place. But delaying isn’t enough. When data use continues to spike and becomes a necessity for education, employment and entertainment alike, I’d rather see Comcast permanently end plans to impose caps. Comcast heard us loud and clear earlier this year, and I don’t plan on remaining quiet for the foreseeable future when families are already struggling to make ends meet.”
“I am proud of the work we have done pushing back against Comcast’s plans to implement data caps on their already hefty data packages,” said Rep. Arconti. “Back in February when we talked about the temporary halt on their data cap decision, I knew we had to continue our push against this idea. It is a good sign that they are committing to not pursuing their plan in 2022. I will continue working to get this bad proposal off the table and making it easier for consumers to get the access they need daily.”