Comcast raising TV and Internet prices, including a big hike to hidden fees

Comcast is raising prices for cable TV and Internet service on January 1, 2021, with price hikes coming both to standard monthly rates and to hidden fees that aren't included in advertised prices.

TV customers are getting an especially raw deal, as Comcast is adding up to $4.50 a month to the "Broadcast TV" fee and $2 to the Regional Sports Network (RSN) fee. That's an increase of up to $78 a year solely from two fees that aren't included in advertised rates.

As in past years, even customers who still are on promotional pricing will not be spared from the Broadcast TV and RSN fee increases. "Customers on promotional pricing will not see that pricing change until the end of the promotion, but the RSN and Broadcast TV fees will increase because they're not part of the promotional pricing," a Comcast spokesperson told Ars.

Without the upcoming increase, the Broadcast TV fee currently ranges from $7.90 to $14.95 depending on the market, the spokesperson said. The RSN fee maxes out at $8.75 a month in most of Comcast's territory, but Comcast said this fee is $14.45 for Chicago-area customers with access to the Sinclair-owned Marquee Sports Network that airs Chicago Cubs games. The RSN fee is not charged in some markets that don't have RSNs.

Six Internet-only packages that cost $53 to $113 a month will all rise $3 a month, and the price for professional installations or in-home service visits is rising from $70 to $100. Comcast revealed price increases in a notice that has been shared on Reddit:

List of Comcast price increases taking effect in Chicago on January 1, 2021.

Reddit user Timbo303

While the above price-increase notice is for Chicago only, a Comcast spokesperson confirmed to Ars that price hikes will be nationwide. The Chicago price-change list doesn't include the Regional Sports Network fee "because their RSN fee increased on October 1, 2020 with the addition of the Marquee Sports Network. The RSN Fee will increase by $2 in all other markets effective January 1, 2021," Comcast told Ars.

"Other changes for 2021 include a Broadcast TV Fee increase of up to $4.50 depending on the market; $3 increase for Internet-only service; and up to a $2.50 increase for TV boxes on the primary outlet, with a decrease of up to $2.45 for TV boxes on additional outlets," the Comcast spokesperson added. The fee for a customer's primary TV box is rising from $5 to $7.50, while the fee for additional boxes is being lowered from $9.95 to $7.50.

While the Chicago price list says the base price of the Choice TV package is rising from $25 to $30 a month, it's not clear which TV packages will get price increases in other areas. Comcast told us that changes to base TV prices will vary by market.

Comcast charges a $30 monthly fee to upgrade from the 1.2TB plan to unlimited data, or $25 a month for customers who purchase xFi Complete, which includes unlimited data and rental of the Comcast gateway modem/router. The xFi Complete fee is only $20 in some markets, but Comcast told Ars it is raising the price in those markets to $25 to match what's charged in the rest of the country.

Comcast blames programmers

Comcast defended the price increases with this statement:

Rising programming costs—most notably for broadcast TV and sports—continue to be the biggest factors driving price increases for all content distributors and their customers, not just Comcast. We're continuing to work hard to manage these costs for our customers while investing in our network to provide the best, most reliable broadband service in the country and the flexibility to choose our industry-leading video platform with X1 or the highest quality streaming product with Flex, the only free streaming TV device with voice remote that's included with broadband service.

But Comcast can't solely blame other programmers for price hikes because Comcast itself owns NBCUniversal and thus determines the price of all NBCUniversal content, including the national channels and eight RSNs in major markets. Despite Comcast owning NBC, the cable company recently warned customers that they could lose NBC channels if Comcast is unable to reach a new carriage contract with... NBC. The absurd situation was summarized by TechDirt in an article aptly titled, "Comcast Tells Customers They May Lose Access To Comcast Channels If Comcast Can't Agree With Comcast."

On the broadband side, Comcast seems to be justifying price hikes based on the company's investment in improving its network. But Comcast reduced capital spending on its cable division in 2019 and reduced cable-division capital spending again in the first nine months of 2020.

As we reported Monday, Comcast will also be enforcing the 1.2TB monthly data cap throughout its entire 39-state territory in 2021. Currently, Comcast enforces the cap in 27 states.

Comcast to Institute 1.2TB Data Caps for Xfinity Users in Northeast US

A 1.2TB data cap is coming to Comcast’s Xfinity subscribers based in the northeast US, forcing them to pay an overage charge if they exceed the monthly limit. 

The cap will go into effect in January, although overages won’t be charged until April. Subscribers in 14 states, including New York, and the District of Columbia, will be affected. 

To no surprise, Comcast users are already expressing outrage after the company announced the change on the Xfinity website, deriding it as a cash grab. However, the company says the vast majority of affected subscribers, at 95 percent, never use more than 1.2TB of data, even as millions of Americans are stuck at home during the pandemic. 

According to a Comcast spokesman, the median monthly data use for subscribers in the Northeast was at 308GB from January to June. As a result, the company says the 1.2TB cap is plenty. Nevertheless, a small group of users far exceed the data cap.

“Five percent of our residential customers make up more than 20 percent of our network usage,” the spokesman said. Now Comcast wants them to pay more. 

In addition, the 1.2TB data cap has already been in place in the Western and Southern US for about two-thirds of the Xfinity customer base. “This is really just aligning (our policy) across all our markets,” the spokesman added. 

For subscribers who exceed the data cap, Comcast will charge them an extra $10 per 50GB used but will not exceed $100 extra per month.

Microsoft ends support for Office 2010: What you can do

Office 2010 users, we know you're out there. As recently as 2017, according to a survey published by IT marketplace Spiceworks, Office 2010 was being used in 83 percent of the companies surveyed. But your time's up on October 13, when Microsoft officially ends support for the Office 2010 productivity suite. That means no more technical support, no more patches, and no more security updates.

As you prepare to switch, the good news is, most of the options are reasonably priced. The bad news is, each new version gets closer and closer to subscription-based products. In fact, the latest standalone version, Office 2019, exists only because enough customers complained that Microsoft relented. The writing's on the wall: Eventually, subscriptions will be the only Office option available.

JD Sartain / IDG

What happens if I stay with Office 2010?

If you are dead-set on keeping Office 2010, you can do so—as long as you’re comfortable with the risks. Because Microsoft will no longer be supporting it with bugs and patches, you will need thorough and aggressive virus protection software.

Another roadblock you may face is incompatibility with some of the newer programs and file formats. However, keep in mind that almost all Windows products can be exported regardless of one-to-one compatibility.

Should I switch to Office on the web for free?

You have one free option from Microsoft: Office on the web. All it requires is a Microsoft account. This could be a good starting point for students and new users who want to “try before they buy” and experiment with the online versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote.

Keep in mind, however, that Office on the web is a limited, scaled-down version and lacks many of the full version’s features. Unless your needs are very basic you probably wouldn't want to run your business off these online applications. 

Should I upgrade to Office 2019?

Office 2019 comes in three different versions and prices:

• Office 2019 Home & Student: currently $150 from Microsoft
• Office Home & Business 2019 Digital: currently $250 from Microsoft
• Office Professional 2019: currently $440 from Microsoft

Office 2019 comes with many caveats. Unlike Office 365, which is updated regularly with new features, Office 2019 is not. You get the features that came with the original version that was released in October of 2018, and no more. Office 2019 does not include OneNote, SharePoint Designer, or InfoPath. When the next desktop version is released, you must purchase it again if you want new features.

In addition, 2019 is not supported by Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. And, for those who run networks or install software on multiple drives, Office 2019 can only be installed on the system drive—that is, the C:\ drive (usually), and that location cannot be changed.

Here's the real kicker: You must have Internet access to install and use this product, unlike 2010, which functions offline.

Should I upgrade to an Office 365 subscription?

Microsoft would love it if you upgraded to an Office 365 subscription. Obviously, instead of shelling out some money once for standalone Office, a subscription requires a monthly or yearly cash outlay.

Microsoft 365 comes in many versions, covering a wide variety of users. We'll summarize the versions below.

If you're a home or student user, you'll likely want one of these versions:

• Microsoft 365 Personal: $70 per year (or $6.99 per month)
• Microsoft 365 Family: $100 per year (or $9.99 per month)

If you need Microsoft  365 for a business, you have a longer list of packages: 

• Microsoft 365 Business Basic: $5.00 per user, per month
• Microsoft 365 Apps: $8.25 per user, per month
• Microsoft 365 Business Standard: $8.25 per user, per month
• Microsoft 365 Business Premium: $12.50 per user, per month

Note: The Business Basic version provides the free Web and Mobile versions only, plus four special services: Exchange, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams. If you don’t need these four services, save your money and just go with the free, web-only Office 365 Online version.

In addition to the Business and Home versions, Microsoft also offers four Enterprise plans for corporations and small businesses: Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, Office 365 E1, Office 365 E3, and Office 365 E5. All subscription-based, these plans provide a lot more “special services” that the other 365 plans lack. 

What are my alternatives to Office?

If the whole Microsoft thing is getting too complicated or too expensive for your pocketbook, we've reviewed the major alternative programs to Office, including Google's online application, LibreOffice, FreeOffice and more. Because they're all free, there's little risk to trying them.

5 Bad Habits That Are Destroying Your PC

1. Leaving Your Laptop on a Plush Surface (and Other Overheating Problems)

Heat is your computer's mortal enemy. If your computer gets too hot, the processor may slow down, throttling itself to keep temperatures reasonable, or even shutting down completely. Running at high temperatures for extended periods can reduce the lifespan of your processor, fans, and battery as well—not to mention make your computer loud and sizzling to touch.

For desktop computers, the solution is pretty simple: make sure your case has adequate airflow, with enough vents and fans to keep cool air moving through the components. That means keeping it out of tight cabinets and other spaces that trap heat. You probably want to clean out the dust once in a while with an electric duster (more on that below). And if you’re overclocking, take extra care to watch those voltages and temps.

Laptops, on the other hand, require a bit more care. Their portability leads to a lot of bad habits, like putting it on a blanket or other plush surface. This blocks airflow under the laptop, and potentially through the laptop (if the blanket covers the fan vents).

When possible, use your laptop on a flat surface (where the rubber feet usually raise it up off a desk), or at least make sure your lap is free of blankets and other things that can block airflow. Lap desks are a good way to ensure things stay cool. 

Other than that, the same rules apply to laptops as desktops: Don't leave it in hot places (like a car on a sunny day) and blow out the dust once in a while.

2. Letting Dirt, Dust, and Liquids Run Wild

All computers accumulate some dust over time, heating up the components and making those fans work harder. While cleaning it regularly can help, you also want to prevent stuff from getting into your computer in the first place.

For example, cigarette smoke and pet fur will exacerbate those problems, and putting your desktop PC on the floor will ensure more of that dust, hair, and debris will get sucked into the intake. And if you have carpet on your floor, you’re probably blocking the power supply’s intake fan. Keep your computer on a desk or other riser, if at all possible, and make sure there are filters on your intake fans.

Secondly, don’t eat or drink near your PC, or at least take some care when you do. Getting crumbs in your keyboard is not only disgusting, but it can damage the switches or make certain keys harder to press. And I’m sure you’ve heard enough horror stories about people spilling coffee on their laptop, which can straight up destroy the machine. 

Even well-intentioned moves, like cleaning your screen with Windex, can introduce liquid where it shouldn’t be (also, Windex is too harsh for your monitor). Spray your gentle screen cleaner on a microfiber cloth, not on the screen, and don’t go crazy—a little goes a long way.

3. Handling Your Laptop Carelessly

Again, while desktops have the luxury of sitting comfortably in your office, laptops are subject to all sorts of abuse. I've seen people pick up the laptop by its display, open the hinge from one side with way too much force, and toss the laptop onto the couch from the other side of the room. (Sure, a couch is rather soft, but one day, you're going to miss and hit the table or floor, and you'll be sorry.) I've even seen people use closed laptops as a coaster for their drink, which makes me grit my teeth in anxiety.

Laptops are meant to be portable, and some can be pretty durable, but the more you abuse it, the more likely you are to damage something. At best, you'll just have to deal with a worn-out laptop hinge or a crack in the casing. But if your laptop has a traditional spinning hard drive instead of an SSD, tossing or shaking the computer—especially if the drive is active at the time—can even cause its head to dislocate or touch the surface of the disk. It isn't common, but if that happens, you're going to have a bad day, especially if you haven't backed up your data. Your laptop is an expensive piece of property: treat it as such.

4. Mismanaging Your Old Battery

Just because your laptop's battery starts with "eight hours of battery life" doesn't mean it'll stay that way forever. Batteries degrade over time—you may get eight hours on a full charge when you first buy it, but after a few years, that may degrade to six or seven hours. There's no escaping this decline, but you may be degrading it faster than necessary if you always run your laptop down to 0 percent. 

To prolong your battery's long-term health, it's best to perform shallow discharges, and recharge it frequently. Don't over-stress about this, of course—if you're on a plane and need to work, an occasional discharge won't kill your battery—but over time, it's best to err on the side of charging regularly than running it down to empty.

You should, however, stress out if your battery is swollen. If your battery is bulging so much that it’s pushing against the case of your laptop, creating a gap between the panels, you need to stop using your computer now and (safely) replace the battery, lest you encounter an explosive failure. 

When you replace the battery, don’t buy a cheap knockoff from eBay—buy it from the manufacturer or a respected third-party store. Low-quality batteries will, at best, not hold a charge very well, and at worst, can be dangerous. The same goes for third-party chargers—just stick to the manufacturer’s official offering or, in the case of laptops that charge over USB-C, a certified USB-PD charger.

5. Wasting Time on Unnecessary Maintenance

Back in the days of Windows XP, when hardware was limited and computers were slow, PC maintenance may have made a difference. But these days, deleting unused and temporary files is unlikely to give you a noticeable speed boost. Many "PC Cleaning" utilities are scams meant to scare you into buying their product—and the free, less scammy ones are still unnecessary most of the time.

Furthermore, certain types of "maintenance" may actually be harmful. Registry cleaners provide almost no benefit, but if they delete a registry entry you actually need, they can actually cause problems. Similarly, these new "privacy" apps that claim to stop Windows 10 from "spying" on you can break certain features without you knowing why. 

The internet is full of people confused about why something stopped working, only to find that it's the fault of one of these tools. You're better off going through Windows 10's settings, learning what they do, and tweaking them yourself.

If you want to clean up your hard drive, use Windows' built-in Disk Cleanup utility and delete any movies, music, and other files you aren't using. And if your computer is running unbearably slow, try removing startup programs or resetting your PC—if that doesn't work, it's probably time to upgrade your hardware.

New Guide to Public WiFi Security

There are hundreds of fantastic things we can thank the World Wide Web for. But, sadly, that doesn’t mean it isn’t without fault.

There’ll always be people who try to exploit the naivety or recklessness of others. That sad state of affairs extends to cyberspace. Criminals will often try to intercept sensitive data over wifi networks – and there’s no better place to try that than on (often unguarded) public servers.

But don’t worry, there are ways to combat this. This guide will run you through everything you need to know about how these cybercriminals operate, and provide you with effective ways of preventing and countering an attack.

Thanks to our friends at surfshark, here is a great guide.  Click here for more.

How to Unsubscribe From Unwanted Email

Unsubscribe Links Made Easy

The cleanest way to get off a list is to use the built-in unsubscribe option. That link is generally buried at the bottom of the message, in tiny type or made to not even look like a link, all the better to keep you subscribed.

(The chance that the unsubscribe link is a trick—a way to confirm you are a real person—is low. But be smart about it; if something looks fishy in any message, just delete it.)

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Google Gmail

Gmail makes it easy to unsubscribe on the desktop. Whenever it notices a working unsubscribe link in a message, it puts its own unsubscribe link at the top of the message, right next to the address of the sender's email. In fact, sometimes it appears in place of the Spam icon in the toolbar. Click it and a giant Unsubscribe button appears.

On mobile, tap the three-dot menu up top; if the sender offers an easy unsubscribe option, the word Unsubscribe will appear on the menu.

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Microsoft Outlook

Prominent unsubscribe links are also found on Outlook.com and the Outlook apps as well. On the web, it says "Getting too much email? Unsubscribe" at the top of a supported message.

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Apple's iOS Mail App

On the built-in iOS Mail app, look for a banner reading "This message is from a mailing list. Unsubscribe" atop your messages, which will email the sender with the unsub request.

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Edison Mail

Edison Mail for iOS, macOS, and Android shows a large Unsubscribe button at the top of a message (with a Resubscribe button if you change your mind). Edison Mail also offers a Block option on messages, so you never have to see anything from the sender ever again.

What's interesting is that not all email apps recognize unsubscribe links the same way, or support them within the same messages. Thankfully, when you're on the mobile apps that support multiple services (usually Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Yahoo, and IMAP accounts), you can unsubscribe across all the services.

Unsubscribe Services

Want to unsubscribe from mail in a big batch? Several services make it possible. The downside: you have to give these services complete access to your inbox for them to find messages with an unsubscribe option; sometimes that includes your contacts. Like Heinlein said: TANSTAAFL.

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Unroll.me

Available on the web or via a mobile app, Unroll.me looks into the heart of your Outlook.com, Gmail/GSuite, Yahoo Mail, and Aol email account to locate messages you probably don't want. You can also try an email address from another service.

In return, you get a list of all the senders you could nix; pick the ones you don't want, and Unroll.me does the rest. It also offers a service called The Rollup so you can re-subscribe to select mailings, but they'll get funneled to you via Unroll.me in a daily digest. You can edit (or deactivate) The Rollup any time.

Unroll.me is free, but it does want full access to your messages and contacts. Its parent company claims that it ignores personal email and anonymizes the messages it sees, but it's using all of the data to sell market research.

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Unsubscriber by Polymail

Unsubscriber is not cheap at $19, but that's because it's not making its money by selling your info to marketing firms and third parties. Created by Polymail—one of our 20 Tools for More Productive Email—the site asks you to log in via your Google account and then offers full bulk unsubscribe and archive tools.

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Leave Me Alone

With Leave Me Alone, you pay for credits ($2.50 for 50) that you can apply toward doing unsubscribes; one unsub per credit. It supports Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, iCloud, Aol, and any IMAP accounts. Connect them all. There's also offer an account option for big teams.

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Clean Email

A single account at Clean Email is $29.99 per year, or you can do up to five users for $49.99 per year or $99.99 annually for a full team (there are more expensive monthly options starting at $7.99). Like many others, it offers a web interface that aggregates your web-based email services (Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, IMAP accounts) in one big inbox that can be cleaned up in a few clicks, whether you're bulk unsubbing, black-listing senders, or setting up filters and rules.