Optimum
has responded to claims from local lawmakers who are saying the company will
soon put a new plan into place that would cut internet speeds.
Lawmakers
held a news conference in Hartford Thursday, speaking out against a plan they
say would impact some families and businesses who are still relying on
telecommuting and internet access to stay safe and connected.
Attorney
General William Tong is calling on the company to stop the decision or delay it
until the pandemic is over.
Altice
released a statement in response saying, in part, “We have invested millions of
dollars into enhancing our network, including the roll out of our 100% fiber
network, which currently offers symmetrical speeds up to 1G... existing
customers will not be affected unless they upgrade, downgrade, or change HFC
services and we continue to offer many different promotions to new and existing
customers.”
Optimum is a division of Altice, the parent company of News
12 Connecticut.
FULL
STATEMENT FROM ALTICE USA:
Altice
USA has a long-standing relationship with the State of Connecticut and we are
committed to providing our customers with the speeds and internet experience
they need now and into the future. We appreciate the feedback from Attorney
General Tong, State Senator Bob Duff, and State Senator Norm Needleman, and
will engage with their offices to provide the information needed.
In
Connecticut alone, we have invested millions of dollars in technology, network
upgrades and building a new 100% fiber network, which offers symmetrical speeds
up to 1 Gig. We have a variety of options and plans available for all our
customers to meet their needs, and additionally, none of the plans Optimum
offers include a data cap.
We
also know how important connectivity is, which is why Altice USA has been
committed to bridging the digital divide to ensure that more residents within
the Optimum and Suddenlink footprints have access to high-quality reliable
broadband service. Before and during the pandemic, we have provided affordable
internet access through the company's Altice Advantage Internet product and
more recently, through the FCC's Emergency Broadband Benefit Program.
Additionally,
we have worked with school districts to provide solutions to reach households
that lack connectivity to keep all students connected. Specifically in the
State of Connecticut, Altice USA has been a proud partner of the Everybody
Learns initiative, working together with 13 Connecticut school districts to
connect nearly 1,500 households, ensuring students could effectively
participate in remote learning over the past year. Altice USA also partnered
with the Dalio Foundation and the Norwalk School District to provide
connectivity to households with students lacking connectivity.
As
it relates to our upload speeds, starting on July 12, we are making some
adjustments to our cable internet speed tiers for new customers. Existing
customers will not see a change to their internet upload speeds unless they change
their cable internet service.
These
new cable internet tiers are consistent with those offered by other internet
providers and our pricing remains competitive so customers can get the
experience they need at a good value.
At
the same time, our 100% fiber network offers symmetrical speeds – same upload
and download speeds - up to 1 Gig and is available to 1 million homes and we
continue to introduce this new network to more and more homes each month.
We
understand that customers’ needs vary, which is why the speed tiers we offer,
ranging from 100Mbps to 1Gig on both our cable internet network and on our 100%
fiber network, provide our customers with options and flexibility to choose the
best package to meet their needs.
Our
network continues to perform very well despite the significant data usage
increases during the pandemic, and we look forward to continuing to provide our
loyal customers with the service experience they need now and into the future.