12 ways to lower your monthly internet, cable and streaming bills komando.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from komando.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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The Television Viewer Protection Act finally went into effect last month, so I was curious to see how companies like Comcast and Spectrum are dealing the billing transparency component in particular. None of these companies are known for being up-front about pricing; would the new law change things?
Short answer: Not really. Cable companies still advertise prices far below what you’ll actually pay, and some of them avoid revealing their true prices until the last possible moment. Even if they’re following the letter of the law, they’re not quite capturing the spirit.
The ever-expanding cable bill
Geeky Gadgets
8:00 am
When we sign up for an internet plan with an internet service provider, they normally give us a modem to use. That modem is more than capable, but it’s not necessarily the best in terms of speed, which is why a lot of us end up upgrading with our own equipment.
Some ISPs still continue to charge for modem rentals even if we have our own, but they will no longer be allowed to do this. Thanks to a law that has come into effect on December 20th, 2020. The Television Viewer Protection Act makes it illegal for ISPs and TV providers to charge customers a “rental” fee for equipment that they already own. This includes modems and cable boxes.
Internet Providers Can’t Charge You for This Anymore
Starting this month, your ISP no longer can bill you for this fee.
The federal government has put an extra gift in your stocking this holiday season.
As of Dec. 20, your internet service provider no longer can levy “rental” charges when you use your own equipment such as a modem or router with internet service.
The change is part of the Television Viewer Protection Act, which President Donald J. Trump signed into law in December 2019 as part of a larger legislative package. The law applies to companies that provide broadband internet access, including companies that also provide TV services.
FYI, Spartan.
Microsoft and 343 Industries are winding down Halo Xbox 360 services over the next year. The two have halted digital sales of all Halo games for the platform (DLC is still available) and will shut down matchmaking, challenges and other key online features for the titles “no sooner than” December 18th, 2021.
This doesn’t affect
Master Chief Collection games or
Halo Wars: Definitive Edition, but it does include the backwards-compatible versions you play on the Xbox One or Series X/S. The Xbox 360 versions will still support custom online games, local games and online squads you just can’t use features that depend on services.