How Much Are You Really Paying for Internet?

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — How much are you paying for your internet? If you have taken your account but are confused and still can’t find the answer, guess what, you are not alone.

“It’s important to know how much you’re paying for it so you can budget for this important service on a monthly basis,” said Consumer Reports Jonathan Schwantes.

Consumer Reports spent more than 8 months analyzing more than 22,000 Internet accounts submitted by people across the country. In the lines of charges and
fees, determining the true price of internet was difficult.

“Many consumers associate it with their TV or phone service. And some providers have a separate line for Internet service, and others don’t,” Schwantes said. “They just have one price for a bundled service, and you can’t really tell what part of that bundle pays for your broadband service.”

The NCTA-Internet and Television Association, a trade group, disagrees and says “Cable providers continue to provide consumers with transparent billing information on their websites and promotional materials.”

Consumer Reports also found that Internet service prices vary widely.

“We found that people paying for low-end broadband, such as 5 to 10 Mbps download speeds, paid on average the same as people who got 100,
300 megabits per second,” Schvantes said.

How can you make sure you’re getting the best deal possible?

First, make sure you’re getting the speed you’re paying for. You can use the internet speed tests at Speedtest by Ookla or Mlabs. Next, call your provider to find out what you’re actually paying each month, then start negotiating with your provider. Consumer Reports members consistently find lower prices by haggling.

And buy a top-rated router to avoid recurring monthly rental fees.