Internet services are not excluded from the staggering list of rising consumer prices. A new study shows that a majority of adults in the U.S. have seen their internet bills increase over the past year, and a significant number have had to change their service because of it.
The study, commissioned by CNET, was conducted in March among 2,367 adults.
Internet bills have increased over the past year for more than 6 in 10 (63%) of adults. The study cited situations where consumers have signed up for internet plans with “attractive rates,” which then surged in price within a year of starting the plan. The average increase between March 2024 and March 2025 was $16.25 per month — $195 per year — according to the study. Just over 1 in 10 experienced increases of more than $25 per month.
One of every five U.S. adults who pay for home internet have had to make adjustments due to the increased cost, the study found. Consumers have taken actions such as downgraded to a lower-cost plan (11%), negotiated with their providers to manage the cost increase (10%), switched providers (8%), and canceled service (5%).
The end of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) in June 2024 also has impacted the issue. As many as 12% of U.S. adults who have home internet and pay for it are now faced with higher costs for service.
“These results mirror what I’ve heard from internet users a lot over the past year. Home internet has become increasingly unaffordable for many people, particularly since the ACP expired,” CNET’s Senior Broadband Reporter Joe Supan said. “Some people told me they were cutting back on groceries and utilities to keep their internet on; others said they’d have to cancel if their bills went up any more.”
The study asked internet users about speed and reliability, finding that 42% of respondents endured unreliable internet speeds or connectivity during the previous year. The issue varies across demographics: people earning less than $40,000 per year are more likely to experience internet issues (45%), as are people living in rural areas (48%).
The ways in which consumers said they have been impacted by unreliable speed or connectivity include:
- Access to entertainment (31%)
- The ability to work from home (19%)
- Paying bills (18%)
- Staying connected with family and friends (16%)
- Keeping up with current events and news (13%)
- Accessing telehealth or mental health services (9%)
- Virtual education (6%)
- Career advancement opportunities (5%)
Internet providers are taking notice of the difficulties rising costs (like those in the study) present to consumers; two providers recently announced they would hold prices steady. Earlier this month, Verizon announced a three-year price lock on all plans for both new and existing customers. Earlier this week, Comcast said it would enable new Xfinity internet customers to select a five-year price guarantee, which may be canceled at any time without penalty.
