AT&T Trials Bandwidth Metering in Texas

A month after word got out about an AT&T Inc. (T) bandwidth metering trial in Reno, Nev., the company revealed that the meter is running for some of its Texas customers as well. The Beaumont, Texas, trial launched today.

According to the Beaumont Enterprise, the newspaper in the Texas town in which the trial is taking place, customers will be provided with a bandwidth measuring tool. If their usage exceeds 150 gigabytes, they’ll get a notice. After that, AT&T expects to charge $1 for each gigabyte beyond 150 gigabytes per month.

In discussing the Reno trial, which went live Nov. 1, AT&T said the purpose is “to evaluate a usage-based model that could potentially help address today’s trend of explosive bandwidth usage.” The carrier at that time mentioned the trial, which also focuses on customers whose monthly usage exceeds 150 gigabytes, might be extended to one other market by the end of the year.

Of course, AT&T isn’t the only broadband access provider that’s exploring bandwidth capping. Comcast Corp. and Time Warner Cable have also been involved in bandwidth metering.

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