US West Cuts Cable Modem Service Prices
BOSTON - In one of the first signs of the marketing war to come in cable modems, U S West Media Group's MediaOne unit
has unveiled a new pricing structure for its Internet service, MediaOne Express.
The new plan, to be rolled out over the next few weeks in the six markets where MediaOne Express is available, will offer the
company's cable television subscribers a discount for unlimited broadband Internet access via a cable TV modem.
The rate for cable subscribers will be $39.95 per month, a $10 reduction from the current rate, and the rate for all others will
be $49.95, also a $10 reduction, it said.
The company also said it is launching MediaOne Express in the Atlanta area. It is the sixth major metropolitan market to get the
service.
The service first was offered in Boston and Jacksonville last September, and was later extended to Detroit, Chicago and
Southeast Florida.
Our aim is to provide the most technologically advanced Internet access to users of all levels -- from novice to expert -- while
making it more readily available to everyone in our service areas," said Ed Holleran, acting director of broadband data services
for MediaOne.
MediaOne Express provides a continuous, direct link to the Internet through a cable modem connected to its broadband
network. Because of the network architecture, when the computer is on, the subscriber is always connected to the Internet --
eliminating the need to connect through dial-up access and reducing downloading time.
MediaOne formerly was Continental Cablevision before it was acquired by U S West Media Group in 1996. It offers
broadband communications services to more than five million subscribers in 19 states.
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