Comcast no longer charging modem rent

iahawkeye83

I guess Comcast is now seeing that there is a real threat from a startup fiber ISP that has been building out in the city I live in. I was driving in the part of town I used to live in (including driving by the old house I called home for 15 years) and it was kind of emotional but that new fiber optic network is really taking shape on the eastern end of town. I live on the southwest side of the city and I have not seen much buildout yet but there are signs they are building in this part of town.

But back on topic I was on the Comcast website checking internet plans and it said on my current plan “unlimited data and advanced Wi-Fi equipment included for five years”.

I have always owned my own modem and router over the years to avoid rental fees but my days with Xfinity may be numbered if GoNetSpeed reaches my home.

Andyross

They started the 5-year thing a bit ago. Thread about it here:
https://broadbandbulletin.com/d/2364-5-year-price-guarantee

crucialcolin

I wish I could get fiber. We have Consolidated Communications were I live as the alternative to Xfinity. Fidium is their fiber brand. Anyways about 5 years ago they upgraded most of our neighborhood with underground utilities to fiber from POTS based copper except for my street and a few other loops. They have never been back to finish the job though. So I’ve been stuck 1200 ft from being able to switch.

I’m not alone however since they no longer seem interested in investing into further network upgrades much of Roseville, CA has fallen under a Comcast monopoly. Even though we were one of their originating cities it would seem CC/Fidium only expands into new areas or markets now.

Ultibeam

iahawkeye83 But back on topic I was on the Comcast website checking internet plans and it said on my current plan “unlimited data and advanced Wi-Fi equipment included for five years”.

This is a very big deal. They’re finally feeling the heat of competition, after multiple quarters of subscriber loss.

Devious

It appears to me these are just five year promos.
If you click on the “pricing and other info” about these plans you see the following.

After promo, or if any service is cancelled or downgraded, regular rates apply to all services and devices.

Donut417

They are getting competition from 5G and Starlink I imagine. However they do still charge a rental fee, it just if you get a “Deal” they include the equipment and unlimited data for the length of the agreement. In the case you state it’s 5 years, but after that 5 years they will come for their pound of flesh.

Currently the only modems/Gateways they dont charge rental fee is for Docsis 4, and thats likely because consumer Docsis 4 modems dont exist currently.

iahawkeye83

Donut417 5G is not available at my location but Starlink is. There is a fiber company building out.

Hopefully I can get fiber soon. The lag on Comcast is horrible. I use cloud gaming on Xbox and the lag makes the games less than enjoyable. And I have the console hardwired Ethernet directly to the router without going through a switch. I have a switch under the computer desk because I have more Ethernet devices than ports on the router. I prefer to use Ethernet for stationary devices and Wi-Fi for portable devices. Some stationary devices are Wi-Fi as they lack Ethernet ports or I can’t get Ethernet cables to them.

Aceq2jot

Donut417 When i went to the Store to exchange my modem a couple of weeks ago and was complaining to the girl who helped me, she told me I should buy my own modem as did someone in the Philippine’s on chat. My response was if there was a Docsis 4.0 capable gateway i would!!

cypherstream

iahawkeye83 Yeah Comcast is cheap and only has internet egress points at a handful of regional locations, so maybe your routing is taking packets thousands of miles out of the way just to reach one of those far away high level regional Internet PoPs. They are very dependent on location. Other larger carriers have the same problem (Like AT&T fiber for example).

iahawkeye83

cypherstream I’m not too far from large metro areas like NYC and Boston where those high level POPs are probably located. Boston is 90 minutes from me and NYC is three hours away. The Northeast is very dense with infrastructure of all kinds (broadband, power, rail, etc.). The problem in my particular area is the lack of “last-mile” access which currently is only Comcast, which hopefully soon I can get access from GoNetSpeed. They are building out, its just taking it’s sweet time getting to my areas. They started building in the eastern end of the city (where its well built out) and they are working their western end of town. I live on the southwest part of the city. One of their techs lives near me because I was walking my dog yesterday and I saw him driving his company van and parking it at his residence. I guess they take their trucks home at night. Unfortunately he can’t get their service either because it ain’t built out in this neck of the woods yet.

Donut417

Aceq2jot you don’t need to buy anything Docsis 4 as long as Comcast doesn’t charge for equipment. If you’re on Docsis 3.1 service then just go a Docsis 3.1 modem or gateway.

CommunityMember

Donut417 If you’re on Docsis 3.1 service then just go a Docsis 3.1 modem or gateway.

As was said many times on DSLR: “Friends don’t let friends buy gateways.”

Donut417

CommunityMember the point I was making was if Comcast supplies equipment for free then use that. Some people like to have all in one solutions , even if it’s not the best choice. Kinda reminds me of the people who suggest Opensense/ wired router + ap. Sure it might be better but at the end of the day it’s about what’s good enough.

Man-of-Leisure

Devious It appears to me these are just five year promos.

That’s not something to worry about now. 2030 is a long way away, and who knows what plans they’ll be offering then.

DOCSIS 4.0 includes a free modem and unlimited data without the 5 year expiration.

In 5 years, I’d expect most of the network to be DOCSIS 4.0.

computerman2

Prior to Moving to our current place in 2019, i always most of the time used my own Docsis 3.0 Modem and Router, or for a time used the Docsis 3.0 Modem as Gateway (Netgear C7100V)

Well when moved to our current residence in 2019, Tech couldn’t find any coax outlets upstairs to hook up the wired companion TV box up here, so was informed you’ll have to rent Gateway, and use our Wifi TV box.

Gateway has worked fine since set it up, upgraded Gateway a few times, only had trouble with Arris XB7 Gateway & SecondLIfe game a bit last year, but finally received XB8 Gateway to replace the old Arris, and not 1 problem since.

I use the Internet portion daily myself, Tv portion a little bit myself, other family member watches the tv with the DVR box alot though.

Overall though at least with Renting once Mid-split gets here, i should automatically qualify for the faster speed, and later on when Docsis 4.0 comes out in area, free upgrade to XB10 Gateway.

So i feel Renting does have its advantages, though i know not for everyone

jweaver

computerman2 XB10 not compatible with wireless boxes though.

cypherstream

Free modems should have been done awhile go. It gives them the competitive edge on mobile with all of those new hidden xfinity mobile access points now. Sure cheaper than installing the Samsung strand mount CBRS radios. I thought about it this way when walking the dogs. As I’m walking, if I had xfinity mobile and there was a rented gateway in every home, as I walked I could be just handed off from AP to AP. That’s less strain on Verizon’s network. Less data Comcast has to pay Verizon so that makes the mobile revenue stream even larger. Not only that, with a rented gateway, they can control all aspects of the experience. The low latency stuff, OFDMA, firmware, any type of network monitoring they want (it’s their gear). Sure it has to follow docsis standards, but they can bolt on all kinds of Comcast proprietary stuff on top.

Win win for Comcast.

MacLeech

cypherstream 80%+ of their mobile traffic is already on WiFi. CBRS is for stuff outside of wifi range. The CBRS network also allows them to sell a separate service to other interested companies which the WiFi network doesn’t allow for.

Charter is about the same.

computerman2

Well if XB10 Gateway not compatible with Wifi TV Box, then at some point i’ll have to invest in a Roku Stick for this upstairs TV in order to continue watching Comcast TV Service.

As don’t think Townhome management is gonna install in wall Coax at all, considering wasn’t any when we moved into the place in November 2019. The wires for the Main DVR box and Gateway modem just came up thru a small hole in the living room floor

Anyways will get it all sorted out in the coming months or years.

Will having Wifi box for time being slow down Mid-split Deployment? should i get the Roku Stick asap? and return this Wifi TV box.

Aceq2jot

Donut417 I plan on keeping the Comcast Gateway as you said it is free 🙂 No Clue why the Comcast reps are telling me i should buy my own though.