Last edited on Nov 13, 2023

 

Mediacom Open Internet Disclosures

The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) requires broadband internet providers, like Mediacom, to publish information regarding their broadband internet access service (“BIAS”). The FCC defines BIAS as “a mass-market retail service by wire or radio that provides the capability to transmit data to and receive data from all or substantially all internet endpoints, including any capabilities that are incidental to and enable the operation of the communications service, but excluding dial-up internet access service,” as well as “any service that the Commission finds to be providing a functional equivalent of the service.” Accordingly, below is information regarding our BIAS, as defined by the FCC, including any network management practices that we employ, the performance characteristics of our services, and the commercial terms of our service offerings.

These disclosures relate solely to that portion of our overall network devoted to providing BIAS and are intended for use by current and prospective subscribers to that service, as well as by the providers of “edge” products (i.e., providers of applications, devices, services, and content accessed over or connected to Mediacom’s BIAS). Other portions of our network may be used to provide cable service, voice service, or other information or non-BIAS data services, each of which is subject to its own terms and conditions of service. In addition, Mediacom may enter into arrangements to provide BIAS to third party establishments, such as coffee shops, bookstores, hotels, libraries, etc., who then may offer internet service to their customers, guests, or others. Nothing herein is intended to address the network management practices, performance characteristics, or commercial terms that may be adopted by such third-party establishments in connection with their provision of internet service to others.

The information provided herein may be revised from time to time as Mediacom deems appropriate. In addition, this disclosure statement should be read in conjunction with the following terms of service:

• Residential Acceptable Use Policy (“AUP”)
• Residential Customer and User Agreement
• Fixed Wireless customer agreement

For further information regarding the services offered by Mediacom in your area, please see mediacomcable.com.

Network Practices

Mediacom does not discriminate against lawful internet content, applications, services, or non-harmful devices. Below is an overview of our BIAS network practices. In all cases, our practices are subject to applicable law and may vary from the descriptions in the overview to the extent required by law, including applicable administrative or judicial mandates.

Blocking: Mediacom does not block or otherwise prevent end user access to lawful content, applications, service, or non-harmful devices. Mediacom does engage in reasonable network management practices, as described below.

Throttling: Mediacom does not degrade or impair access to lawful internet traffic on the basis of content, application, service, user, or use of a non-harmful device. Mediacom does engage in reasonable network management practices, as described herein. Our no-throttling policy does not apply to choices made by the end user regarding their choice of service plan; certain plans may offer specified amounts of data each month at a higher speed, with remaining data usage in that month delivered at a slowed speed. More information about the Monthly Usage Allowances associated with each of our BIAS plans is available. Customers can check the amount of their monthly usage at any time by logging into their Mediacom My Account.

Behavior Specific to Particular Content, Applications, Services and Devices: Mediacom does not prevent users of its BIAS from sending and receiving the lawful content of their choice, running lawful applications, using lawful services of their choice, or connecting their choice of legal devices, provided that such content, applications, services and devices do not harm the network or the provision of BIAS, facilitate theft of service, or harm other users of the service or degrade their service. Similarly, Mediacom does not impair or degrade particular content, applications, services or non-harmful devices so as to render them effectively unusable, subject to the reasonable network management practices described herein. Mediacom does not block or rate-control specific protocols or protocol ports, or modify protocol fields in ways not prescribed by protocol standards, and does not otherwise inhibit or favor certain applications or classes of applications.

Device Attachment Rules: Mediacom BIAS fixed wired customers can either lease a modem from Mediacom or purchase their own modem at retail. Customers who choose to purchase a modem are required to select and use a model that is tested and certified in DOCSIS 3.0 or 3.1, or is otherwise on Mediacom’s list of compatible modems. Mediacom recommends that customers select a modem that is capable of achieving the speed and other features and functionalities associated with the particular tier of service the customer has purchased. Use of an incompatible or inappropriate retail modem may cause a service interruption or degradation; customers are advised to replace incompatible equipment with a compatible device.  Fixed wireless customers are provided with an outdoor antenna and power supply at no cost, and may either lease a router from Mediacom or purchase their own router at retail.

Affiliated Prioritization: Mediacom does not directly or indirectly favor some traffic over other traffic, including through use of techniques such as traffic shaping, prioritization, or resource reservation, to benefit any affiliate.

Paid Prioritization: Mediacom does not favor some traffic over other traffic, including through use of techniques such as traffic shaping, prioritization, or resource reservation, in exchange for consideration, monetary or otherwise.

Network Management Practices

The bandwidth and network resources used to deliver BIAS are limited and shared among users. The FCC allows BIAS providers such as Mediacom to engage in “reasonable network management practices” that are consistent with industry standards for the purpose of maintaining or enhancing the quality of our services. Accordingly, Mediacom, like other internet service providers, uses various tools and techniques to manage its network and deliver its service, with the goal of optimizing the quality of the online experience of the maximum number of customers.  These tools and techniques are dynamic and may change frequently.

Blocking Unlawful, Harmful or Unwanted Traffic: Mediacom engages in reasonable network management practices to block unlawful, unwanted or harmful traffic. The tools and techniques that Mediacom uses to manage its network can and do change to meet evolving threats and challenges. Network management activities may include, but may not be limited to: (i) identifying spam and preventing its delivery to customer e-mail accounts; (ii) detecting malicious internet traffic and preventing the distribution of, or inadvertent access to, malware, phishing, viruses, or other harmful code or content; and (iii) preventing harmful or illegal activity such as the distribution or transfer of child pornography or other unlawful content. Like other internet service providers, Mediacom does not guarantee that its practices and activities will be able to prevent all or any particular unlawful, unwanted or harmful traffic or activity.

Congestion Management: Mediacom engages in reasonable network management practices to alleviate or forestall congestion. Congestion management activities may include, but may not be limited to: (i) temporarily delaying or terminating traffic to or from users during periods of high network congestion in one or more areas, even if a customer is not subject to or has not exceeded a monthly threshold or limit of bandwidth consumption; and (ii) using other tools and techniques that Mediacom may implement to meet its goal of delivering the optimal broadband internet experience to its customers given prevailing network and consumption circumstances.  Like other internet service providers, Mediacom does not guarantee that its practices and activities will be able to prevent or alleviate congestion.

Security: Mediacom employs certain practices to protect the security of our customers and network from unwanted and harmful activities. These include practices designed to protect our servers against Denial of Service attacks and to prevent viruses, worms, spyware, spam and identity theft. To enhance the effectiveness of our security practices, we do not publicly disclose specific information detailing the levels and types of activities that may trigger our deployment of security protection measures. When security measures are employed, they may affect performance characteristics of service or the ability to access certain suspicious websites, but such measures are employed in a manner designed to have non-discriminatory impact on all similarly-situated customers. Mediacom makes available certain security tools for use by our customers at no additional charge, but we do not guarantee their effectiveness. Like other internet service providers, Mediacom does not guarantee that its practices and activities will be able to prevent all or any particular unwanted or harmful activity, breach of security or other consequence.

Performance Characteristics

Service Description:  The BIAS service Mediacom provides is known as “fixed broadband” internet access services, including both fixed wired and fixed wireless service offerings. Mediacom offers multiple packages (or “plans”) of our fixed wired and wireless BIAS, with varying speeds, features and bandwidth usage allowances that allow customers to select the plan that best suits their needs. Each package is priced to reflect the particular speed, features and bandwidth usage allowances of that package. In selecting a plan, customers should consider whether their anticipated use is for residential or commercial needs and the types and extent of real-time applications that the customer intends to use. It is each customer’s responsibility to determine whether the plan selected is adequate and otherwise suitable for the customer’s intended usage. Information about the suitability of particular packages for particular online activities can be found on Mediacom’s website. The features, pricing and other terms and conditions of our service offerings are modified from time to time, and not all packages are available in all areas. Descriptions of currently available packages, including pricing information, can be viewed on the Internet page on Mediacom's website. More information can be found in Mediacom’s Downstream Monthly Usage Allowance disclosure.

Performance Metrics: Along with various other broadband providers and the FCC, Mediacom participates in an ongoing study of mass-market broadband services in the United States in which information regarding broadband performance is compiled for different regions across the country. The results of the most recent study can be found on the FCC’s website. This study measured the ratio of median download speed to advertised download speed (as a national average) during peak times for certain of Mediacom service tiers. The study also measured the ratio of median upload speed to advertised upload speed (as a national average) during the busiest periods of the day, known as “peak” times for Mediacom service tiers. Peak times are Monday through Friday from 7:00pm to 11:00pm local time.

That study concluded that in terms of whether median download speeds experienced by most ISPs’ subscribers nearly meets or exceeds the advertised download speeds for the service tiers examined, Mediacom is among the “best performing ISPs, when measured by this metric,” and that “more than 90% of their panelists experienced an actual median download speed of at least 95% of the advertised download speed.” The study further concluded that, for measured service tiers, several ISPs, including Mediacom “provided 100% or greater than their advertised speed during the peak usage period to more than 80% of their panelists for more than 80% of the time.”

In addition, this study attempted to account for many of the factors that can impact users’ actual, experienced end-to-end broadband speeds, unlike many other speed measurement tests. Therefore, it is important for consumers to realize that online speed tests rely on a different testing methodology than that used in the FCC study discussed above, and results may differ. Moreover, because speed tests measure performance at that particular time, the results may vary depending on when the test is run. In addition, because those test results reflect nationwide averages, the actual speeds users will experience in their specific locations may differ.

Mediacom offers several other speed tiers but the FCC’s test did not measure them all. However, it is reasonable to believe that the results from that study are indicative of what can be expected using these methodologies with the speed tiers that were not tested, since Mediacom’s infrastructure and practices are generally the same for its service at all offered speeds.

Mediacom advertises speeds as “up to” a specific level based on the Service plan to which a customer subscribes but does not guarantee that a customer will achieve those speeds at all times. The “actual” speed that a customer will experience while using the Service depends on a variety of conditions which are described below, many of which are beyond the control of Mediacom as an internet service provider.

Fixed Wired Service Speed: Mediacom offers wired broadband internet access service – Xtream Internet Service – in discrete speed tiers. The actual speed a subscriber experiences may vary based on a number of factors including, but not limited to (i) variances in network usage; (ii) the capabilities and capacities of the customer’s computer and/or local area network (LAN) devices such as wireless routers; (iii) latency (described further below); (iv) the performance of the content and application providers the consumer is accessing, such as a search engine or video streaming site; and (v) the performance characteristics of transmissions over portions of the internet that are not subject to Mediacom’s control. Mediacom provides a free speed test page, so you can test your connection for yourself.

The tables below set forth the advertised and median actual speeds for Mediacom’s wired Xtream Internet Service plans currently available for purchase as of November 13, 2023. Median speeds are based on internal testing and actual speeds may vary. 

Xtream Internet Service Plans:

Fixed Wireless Service Speed:Mediacom offers fixed wireless broadband internet access service – Bolt Internet Service – in discrete speed tiers. The actual speed a subscriber experiences may vary based on a number of factors in addition to the factors listed above for fixed wired service, including, but not limited to (i) the customer’s proximity to a cell site; (ii) the capacity of the cell site; (iii) the number of other users connected to the same cell site; (iv) the surrounding terrain; (v) radio frequency interference, applicable network management practices; and (vi) the applications used. Mediacom provides a free speed test page, so you can test your connection for yourself.

The table below sets forth the advertised and median actual speeds for Mediacom’s fixed wireless Bolt Internet Service plans currently available for purchase as of November 13, 2023. Median speeds are based on internal testing and actual speeds may vary.

Bolt Internet Service Plans:

Latency.  Latency is a measurement of the average time that it takes for a data packet to travel from one point on a network to another. Latency is typically reported based on “round-trip” time and expressed in milliseconds (ms). While the impact of latency generally is not noticeable by customers, it can have an impact on networks and on certain types of internet applications. For example, according to the FCC, high round-trip latencies can have a perceptible impact on the quality of voice services. High-definition multiplayer online games also may be sensitive to latency. The median latency for peak periods for Mediacom’s Xtream Internet Service plans is 22 ms.

Impact of Non-BIAS Data Services: The FCC’s rules distinguish between our BIAS and “non-BIAS data services” that share capacity with our BIAS over our last-mile facilities. An example of such a non-BIAS data service may include Mediacom’s voice over IP (“VoIP”) voice service or IPTV service. Such services, which are not subject to the BIAS rules, may because of their nature sometimes receive priority; thus, increased use of our phone service may temporarily impact our BIAS at particular times. We routinely monitor any such services to minimize their impact on our BIAS.

Commercial Terms

ISPs are required to disclose certain aspects of their commercial terms of service, including pricing, privacy policy and redress options. Below is information regarding those topics.  Additional terms of service can be found at the links found at the beginning of this disclosure.

Pricing: As noted above, Mediacom offers multiple plans of BIAS. The current pricing and other terms and conditions of these plans (including information regarding fees for early termination or additional network services) can be found on our Rate Cards for fixed wired plans or the Bolt Rate Card for fixed wireless plans, or obtained by calling our customer service center at 855-633-4226. Mediacom’s pricing may be subject to promotional rates. Additional fees, for example for equipment rental, installation, and early termination, may apply. The pricing and other commercial terms of our BIAS are subject to change and the information provided in this disclosure statement is not intended to supersede or modify any of the terms and conditions of service as applicable to a particular customer.

Mediacom participates in the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program, which is designed to help low-income household connect to the internet and provides qualifying households up to $30 per month ($75 per month in Tribal lands) towards their high-speed broadband and related equipment charges. See more infomation about the ACP. Mediacom also offers its own low-cost internet program for students and their families, called Connect-2-Compete.

Privacy Policies: Your privacy is very important to us. Personal information you provide to Mediacom is governed by the Mediacom's Privacy Policy, and is subject to change from time to time.

Redress Options: For immediate assistance with issues or complaints involving your BIAS, please contact our customer service centers at 1-855-633-4226. We have agents available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Customers can also email us through the Customer Portal using the contact form. Written complaints can also be sent via U.S. mail to: Mediacom Communications Customer Service Department, 1 Mediacom Way, Mediacom Park, NY 10918. The FCC has established procedures for addressing complaints relating to internet service. For information concerning these complaint procedures, please refer to the FCC's website.