C|Net reports…

Higher prices have come for your internet bill — at least it feels that way for many. That’s according to a new CNET survey that found 63% of US adults paying for home internet saw their prices increase last year. On average, they paid $195 more last year than they did the year before.

Price hikes didn’t necessarily translate to better service, either. More than half of people who saw their bills increase said they still experienced unreliable connectivity.

They talk about the role of the end of the ACP, but they don’t talk about percentage-wise and dollar-wise how the loss impacts the overall results…

CNET’s survey also sheds light on the impact of the Affordable Connectivity Program’s end, a $30 monthly subsidy that helped low-income households pay for internet that shut down in mid-2024. 12% of respondents said they’ve seen their bills increase in the past year after the benefit went away.

“The demise of ACP was detrimental to so many and I think that this is reflected in these numbers,” said Christopher Ali, professor of telecommunications at Penn State University.

By the time the Federal Communications Commission ended ACP enrollments in February 2024, 23 million Americans had enrolled. The program accepted households at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, or $60,000 in annual income for a family of four last year.

A major concern here is the decrease in broadband adoption. For as long as I’ve written about broadband, cost has been the great barrier.