AT&T: Stop throttling the data speeds on plans with unlimited data

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Why This Is Important

UPDATE: AT&T is digging in its heels after 10,000 people signed this petition. The company responded to the campaign by saying customers with unlimited plans can only access three gigabytes of data per month -- meaning unlimited plans no longer exist!

AT&T has  quietly started to slow down the data of customers who they say use too much data -- even when the customer has an unlimited data plan!

I've been a loyal AT&T customer for more than three years, and I was excited to subscribe to their unlimited plan. Like many people, I use my smartphone for all kinds of things from listening to music to navigating unfamiliar neighborhoods to accessing important software applications and documents related to my work as a physical therapist.

All that data usage can add up -- and that's why when AT&T began offering plans for 2 or 3 gigabytes of data each month, I passed and stuck with my unlimited plan. Now it turns out that the plan isn't so unlimited after all!

AT&T is sticking to the letter of their agreement, but not its spirit. If customers are in the top 5% of data users in their area, they get a message from AT&T warning that if they remain in the top 5%, they risk having their data flow slowed down to a virtual standstill. Can you imagine? A web page that would normally have taken 30 seconds to load could take 5 minutes or longer once AT&T puts on the brakes.

This just isn't fair -- no one who buys an unlimited data subscription be punished for using unlimited data. 

AT&T blames this practice on customers for using too much data -- the company should instead look in the mirror. It's hard to believe AT&T would throw away $3 billion on a failed merger with T-Mobile instead of spending that money to build out its network capacity so that it could honor its promises.

Instead of honoring its promises, AT&T just shifts the blame to you and me for using the service we've paid for. Please sign my petition to put a stop to this once and for all.