Broadband is expensive. A CNET survey found that 63% of internet users pay more than before

Your internet bills are priced higher – at least for many people, that’s how it feels. This found 63% of US adults had prices risen last year, according to a new CNET survey. On average, they paid $195 more than last year.

Price hikes didn’t necessarily lead to better service. More than half of those who saw an increase in bills say they still experience unreliable connectivity.

The findings are coming at a difficult moment for the US broadband industry. The federal government is dedicated Over $90 billion Closing this digital gap since the Covid-19 pandemic has been the Trump administration expressing panic at the outcome. It is reportedly Shifting funds away from the fiber internet Towards Elon Musk’s satellite internet service Starlink There are some interested experts About that high $120 monthly price tag.

“If it’s not affordable, you won’t be able to access it,” he said. Sean Goncalvesa local independence research institute that is the director of communications with advocacy groups.

Customers are taking many steps to address higher prices, such as downgrading to cheaper plans, switching providers, or canceling services. We asked experts for the best advice on how to handle these issues.

Most people had an increase in internet bills last year.

Price increases are routine for internet customers, with 63% of US adults surveyed reporting higher bills than in the previous year. On average, they paid $195 more than the previous year.

Trey Paul, senior broadband editor at CNET, is no surprise. “That $195 figure might be surprising at first, but it makes sense when you consider that many ISPs have raised their monthly prices from $20 to $50 after an attractive promotional price.

Analysis of CNET price rise The nation’s largest ISP has seen monthly prices rise by $50 a year later at providers like Spectrum. However, these high prices did not necessarily lead to better performance. 51% of customers who saw an increase in bills report unreliable internet.

In many cases, customers don’t even know that the price of their plans is rising until they know that the number of bills is high. Jonathan Schwantes, Senior Policy Advisor at Consumer Report, supported the lead Analyzing over 22,000 Internet Invoices 2022.

“Some of the bills we’ve collected are very complicated,” he said. “In thousands of cases, it’s too difficult for people to know what they’re paying, what hidden fees mean, and even find the price of internet services.”

Part of that confusion was released last year when the Federal Communications Commission began requesting ISPs View important information about your plan With the “Broadband Nutrition Label.”

When purchasing an Internet plan, look for the buttons “Broadband Facts” or “Show Broadband Labels.” Each provider is legally required to show how much money your invoice will increase after the introductory rate expires. You’ll see too Other fees It will appear on your invoice, including equipment and installation fees.

Two users experience unreliable internet services

42% of US adults in the survey said they experienced unreliable internet speed or connectivity last year, but levels of reliability vary based on income.

According to the study, higher income levels were associated with increased reliability. 57% of adults with annual incomes above $80,000 had no connectivity issues last year, while 45% were below $40,000.

Lynnette White, 77, told me that the internet in her senior building was out at the same time every day.

“It was very frustrating and worse because you were in the middle of something,” she said.

Survey respondents said the areas most frequently affected by unreliable internet are entertainment (31%), home (19%), pay bills (18%), connections with family and friends (16%), and the ability to keep up with current events and news development (13%).

Access to entertainment may sound like luxury, but it came across as an essential lifeline for internet users I spoke to. Phyllis Jackson, a retired management assistant in Monroville, Pennsylvania, told me she sometimes thinks of computers like her best friend.

“I like watching people talk. I live alone so I want to hear my voice. It seems more personal,” she said. “If I’m at my age and I live alone and don’t have access to an internet computer, that’s really going to calm me down.”

Six percent of respondents said virtual education opportunities were affected by internet access disruptions over the past year. Amina Fazurulathe director of technology policy advocacy at Common Sense Media, told me that the statistics were particularly concerned about her.

“For students, if you are experiencing poor or unreliable services, you will miss a window of opportunity to attract the student to that resource,” she said. “Once you lose it, it’s really hard to restart.”

High cost forced users to cancel or downgrade the service

These price increases have had a significant impact on internet users. The study shows that one in five US adults who pay for home internet access need to cancel cheaper plans, switch providers, or services altogether due to higher costs. Only one in ten people tried to negotiate the bill.

“One of the things we worry about is seeing results, especially regarding the need to cancel or downgrade to low-cost plans,” Fazzulla said. “It’s especially concerning that all your daily needs, many of them run through the internet and people know they’re losing access.”

Karen Kama, 68, of Reading, Pennsylvania, told me that even a small price increase would force her to cancel her service altogether because she is on bond. Earlier this year, her low-income internet plan from Xfinity increased from $10 to $15 a month.

“If they go up again, I’m just going to stop it,” Kama said.

It is well documented that affordability is the main reason why you don’t have a home internet. According to 2021 Pew Research Center Survey20% of people who don’t have a home internet subscription cited costs as the main reason. The highest response was more than twice the number that said the service was unavailable.

Users feel the effects of the end of ACP

CNET research also highlights the impact of the end of affordable connectivity programs. This is a $30 monthly grant to help with internet payments that was closed in mid-2024. 12% of respondents said they saw an increase in bills over the past year after benefits were gone.

“The end of ACP is harmful to so many people, and I think this is reflected in these numbers,” he said. Christopher AliProfessor of Communications at Penn State University.

The Federal Communications Commission is around the time ACP registration has ended February 2024, 23 million Americans I was registered. The programme accepted under 200% of households Federal Poverty Guidelinesor a family of four earned $60,000 per year last year.

What you can do if your invoice goes up

First of all, it is important to pay attention to your bills. If you have a car setup, you can easily lose price increases. There are a few other tactics.

Negotiate with your ISP

Many of us have danced this song before. Our internet promotions are gone by the end of the year, so contact your provider. Negotiate a better deal. These days, you probably have to start with online chats using AI. (There are a few here Tips for immediate use of AI In your negotiations. ) Some best practices include researching available plans in advance, seeking the best deal between May and October, and retrying later if you don’t get the deal you wanted.

I will downgrade your plan

It may not be Speed ​​is needed As you think you would. For most people, 100Mbps is enough for HD streaming and video calls. To see the current speed, you can run quickly Speed ​​Test From the connected device. There will always be less than a dozen connected devices, but if you have devices above 200Mbps, you may consider downgrading to a slower plan.

Switch ISP

If negotiations end, you should be willing to walk away from the bad ISP relationship. This can be a difficult outlook – no one wants to get stuck without the internet while waiting for a new service to kick in – but it can be one of the most effective ways to save money on your internet bill. That’s because most providers are good Transactions with new customers And some will Buy an old contract. To see what is available in your area, FCC broadband map And take a look at other options available to you.

Buy your own equipment

Most internet providers charge a device fee of between $10 and $15, but you can buy it yourself Wi-Fi router Under $100. It’s a little investment in advance, but you’ll usually pay it yourself in the first year, and your internet bill will be pretty cheap. I tried this a few years ago and saved $180 a year.

Methodology

CNET has asked YouGov PLC to conduct an investigation. Unless otherwise stated, all numbers are from Yougov plc. The total sample size was 2,367 adults, of which 2,304 had access to Home Internet and 1,916 paid for Home Internet. Fieldwork was held from March 19th to 21st, 2025. The survey was conducted online. The numbers are weighted and represent all American adults (ages 18 and above).