EXCERPT: “Talk about unfair. Millions of broadband customers in rural and underserved urban markets are paying nearly identical prices for slower DSL service as customers who have access to high-speed fiber services. That’s the conclusion from a report published this week by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA), which advocates for more equitable broadband deployment. In places where AT&T and Verizon don’t offer their high-speed fiber-based broadband, they continue to sell customers slower-speed DSL service. But recently, the companies have been eliminating lower-tier plans, which has resulted in higher prices for the base cost of service. But in areas where the networks haven’t been upgraded, like rural regions of the country or low-income urban markets, this means customers are paying more for slower service. Take AT&T as an example. The company is charging $60 a month for DSL with speeds ranging between 6 and 10Mbps, according to the white paper. This is the same price, after the first year discounts end, that AT&T charges its U-verse broadband customers, who get download speeds between 50Mbps and 75Mbps. Verizon’s pricing is similar. It charges $65 a month for 100Mbps Fios service, and about $63 a month for DSL service, which tops out at between 1.5Mbps and 15Mbps.” FULLSTORY: https://cnet.co/2vhxnol
