AT&T's gigabit fiber-to-the-home service has just arrived in Kansas City, and the price is the same as Google Fiber—if you let AT&T track your Web browsing history.
Just as it did when launching its "GigaPower" service in Austin, Texas in late 2013, AT&T offers different prices based on how jealously users guard their privacy. AT&T's $70 per-month pricing for gigabit service is the same price as Google Fiber, but AT&T charges an additional $29 a month to customers who opt out of AT&T's "Internet Preferences" program.
AT&T says it tracks "the webpages you visit, the time you spend on each, the links or ads you see and follow, and the search terms you enter... AT&T Internet Preferences works independently of your browser's privacy settings regarding cookies, do-not-track, and private browsing. If you opt-in to AT&T Internet Preferences, AT&T will still be able to collect and use your Web browsing information independent of those settings."
Keeping tabs on the customer's Web browsing lets AT&T serve advertisements targeted to individual users.
"Using the IP address assigned to each GigaPower account, AT&T scans for your AT&T Internet Preferences election," the company says. "AT&T will treat your Internet browsing activity in accordance with your election. If you chose to participate in the AT&T Internet Preferences program, your Internet traffic is routed to AT&T's Internet Preferences web browsing and analytics platform. If you chose not to participate in the AT&T Internet Preferences program, your Internet traffic is not routed to the Internet Preferences analytics platform. AT&T may collect and use web browsing information for other purposes, as described in our Privacy Policy, even if you do not participate in the Internet Preferences program."
Google told Ars that Google Fiber does not track users' browsing history. Google also doesn't offer different pricing levels based on privacy selections made by its fiber customers. But Google already tracks users across its own Web properties regardless of whether they also subscribe to Google Fiber.
"We collect information about the services that you use and how you use them, like when you watch a video on YouTube, visit a website that uses our advertising services, or you view and interact with our ads and content," Google says.
Google Fiber's privacy policy notes that Google does collect additional information from Fiber users, but it doesn't necessarily combine that information with data it collects from usage of other Google services.
"Technical information collected from the use of Google Fiber Internet for network management, security or maintenance may be associated with the Google Account you use for Fiber, but such information associated with the Google Account you use for Fiber will not be used by other Google properties without your consent," Google says. "Other information from the use of Google Fiber Internet (such as URLs of websites visited or content of communications) will not be associated with the Google Account you use for Fiber, except with your consent or to meet any applicable law, regulation, legal process or enforceable governmental request."
Fiber beyond the press release
Despite AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson threatening to "pause" the company's fiber rollout because of new net neutrality regulations, the company seems to be continuing its expansion.
As for AT&T's new offerings in Kansas City, the company said it launched today "in parts of Kansas City, Mo., parts of Leawood, Lenexa, Olathe, and Overland Park, Kan. and in surrounding communities located throughout the metro area. Additionally, AT&T has plans to expand the service to Independence, Mo. and Shawnee, Kan."
Besides the $70 gigabit service, AT&T is also offering a gigabit Internet and TV bundle (with HBO) that costs $120 per month for the first three years. Adding voice to the deal raises the price to $150 per month.
Google does not sell voice service with its Internet plans. But it does have one offer AT&T hasn't matched, namely the free 5Mbps Internet service for those who can't afford or simply prefer not to pay for the gigabit speeds. The "free" service does require a one-time $300 construction fee but has no monthly service payments.
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