Is Comcast Digital Costly?

by Oneil Williams, Demand Media

Comcast has a variety of plans to meet the needs of subscribers.

William Thomas Cain/Getty Images News/Getty Images

Comcast provides subscribers with three core products: digital cable TV programming, digital high-speed Internet and a digital home phone service. In a Boston.com article, Comcast's basic cable package with 35 channels goes for $15.80 a month in Boston, which is less than the cheapest package offered by either satellite TV or it's fiber-optic cable competitor in that area.

Cable TV

Comcast has a variety of cable plans and features to meet the needs of subscribers. Plans and prices will vary by region and you may be eligible for certain discounts if you're a senior citizen. When you contact any cable provider, chances are you'll be prompted by a representative to evaluate plans that provide way more than you need. Instead, figure out what it costs to subscribe to a plan that offers the shows you want on a plan you can afford. You can always upgrade your services later if you feel the need to add more packages or premium content.

High-Speed Internet

As of June 2011, Comcast has a high-speed Internet promotion that allows you access to download speeds of up to 15 Mbps for $19.99 per month for a 6-month period. The rate after month six is $34.99. Comcast includes access to its Constant Guard security suite with a value it puts at $360. Subscribers also receive seven email accounts, each with 10 GB of storage and access to live games on ESPN3.com. Depending on your address and when you contact Comcast, this promotion may or may not be available to you. However, it is typical of the kinds of pricing and promotions you can expect from this and other providers.

Digital Phone

Comcast's digital phone offering comes with either unlimited local or long distance calling or both, depending on the plan you choose. The service comes with voice mail in addition to 12 other calling features and low international calling rates. If evaluating the service a la carte, you may be able to take advantage of promotional pricing. Comcast also offers special pricing when you bundle all three core services together to provide you with savings you would not get purchasing them separately.

Considerations

To make a determination on whether Comcast provides value for money and will fit within your budget, contact the provider or visit Comcast's website and see what services are available for your address and what the costs will be to you as a new subscriber. If you're speaking with a sales representative over the phone, make it clear that your goal is to save as much as you can on the services. Ask for waivers on any setup and installation fees because, in most instances, these waivers will not just be offered to you. For promotions, ask for the rate the services roll to after expiration, then do the calculations to see how much you will have saved yourself.

References

  • Boston.com; Comcast Asserts Right to Set Rates; John M. Guilfoil; May 2011

Resources

  • ConsumerReports.org: Bundling: Ratings, Recommendations
  • Comcast Voices; 04 MAR 2009 A Comcast History Lesson; Scott McNulty; March 2009
  • Associated Press: Comcast to Sell Skype Box for Video Calls; June 2011
  • ITworld; Comcast Expands IPv6 Trial; Carolyn Duffy Marsan; June 2011

About the Author

Oneil Williams started writing professionally in 1993. He wrote for "The Sunday Gleaner" and the "Jamaica Observer," two newspaper publications in Jamaica, and immigrated to the United States in 1995. Williams holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in communication from the University of Central Florida.

Photo Credits

  • William Thomas Cain/Getty Images News/Getty Images