New York state authorities have determined that T-Mobile violated the state’s Affordable Broadband Act by imposing monthly data limits on its low-cost internet service. The Office of the Attorney General found that the telecommunications provider was throttling speeds for eligible households, effectively restricting access to the broadband service mandated by state law.
Under the Affordable Broadband Act, providers must offer broadband to eligible low-income residents at speeds of at least 25 Mbps for $15 a month or 200 Mbps for $20 a month. The law prohibits additional taxes or equipment fees for these specific plans. T-Mobile was required to make reasonable efforts to promote these options, but the investigation revealed significant barriers to access.
Data Caps and Throttling Violations
According to the press release from the Attorney General’s office, T-Mobile placed monthly data caps on its Affordable Broadband Act plans. The company would throttle speeds to as low as 650 kilobits per second after a customer used 50GB of data. This threshold could be reached in approximately four days of typical broadband usage, severely limiting connectivity for households relying on the service.
Attorney General Letitia James stated that reliable and affordable internet service is a basic need for all New Yorkers. She noted that T-Mobile flouted the law designed to help vulnerable residents access connectivity. The office is committed to ensuring that eligible New Yorkers are not denied access to affordable home internet through such restrictions.
Expansion and Search Visibility
Beyond the data cap issue, the investigation found that T-Mobile was only offering its Affordable Broadband Act plans in areas where it had 5G wireless deployed. This geographic limitation restricted availability to a subset of the state. Additionally, the company was preventing information about these plans on its website from being indexed by search engines, making it difficult for potential customers to find the service.
To resolve these violations, T-Mobile has agreed to remove the data caps from its Affordable Broadband Act plans. The company will also make these plans available in all locations within the state where it offers home internet service. Furthermore, T-Mobile will ensure that search engines can access details about the Affordable Broadband Act plans, improving visibility for eligible residents.
In a statement shared with Engadget, T-Mobile said it has a long history of helping customers in New York stay connected through low-cost broadband. The company stated it is updating its plan to meet the state’s requirements while maintaining the same low price. T-Mobile noted that the agreement with the New York Attorney General builds on that commitment, provides greater clarity around the offering, and makes the plan available to more eligible customers.
Attorney General James encouraged all eligible New Yorkers to enroll in a low-cost home internet plan through the Affordable Broadband Act. The resolution marks a correction to the service structure, ensuring that the statutory requirements for speed, price, and availability are met without the previously imposed data restrictions.
Source: Engadget
