While phone and internet providers are taking the FCC pledge to keep customers connected during the coronavirus pandemic, some Spectrum customers are finding that their monthly costs have increased. One US Representative has gone to the FCC to share complaints from his constituents.
Rep. Anthony Brindisi, a Democrat from Utica asked federal regulators to stop price hikes during the pandemic, when many families are working and doing school work from home.
“Parents have no choice but to take even more from an already-squeezed family budget to pay their rising internet bills, or else their children could no longer participate in online classes,” Brindisi wrote to Ajit Pai, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.
“It is outrageous that, at this time of national sacrifice, some ISPs are raising their rates and charging families even more for service,” Brindisi continued.
The Finger Lakes Times, a local paper in an area where Brindisi serves, reached out to Spectrum for a statement about the price hikes. Lara Pritchard, a spokeswoman for Charter said, “We have customers whose promotions end literally every day,” suggesting that the increases are due to promo deals ending for some customers. “Without seeing specifics,” such as an individual account, “there is no catch-all way to attribute a change.”
In addition to halting price hikes, Brindisi asked that the FCC pledge for broadband and phone companies to not cease service during the pandemic be extended for at least an additional 90 days, after the original timeline of 60 days.
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