SPECTRUM VS FRONTIER Comparison

Charter Communications offers broadband Internet, TV, and phone service to consumers via their hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) network.

Picking the right bundle for your lifestyle

Promotional pricing is a common marketing tactic for Charter, Frontier, and most other broadband providers. If you plan to get TV and/or phone service in addition to Internet, keep an eye out for the terms “triple play” and “double play,” which refer to combination Internet/TV/phone and Internet/TV plans.

Thanks to streaming video services like Netflix and near-universal smartphone ownership, US consumers have been dropping cable TV subscriptions and phone service faster than ever. This is bad news for providers, but good news for customers who still want phone and TV service, since they’ll often offer double-and-triple-play deals for a fraction of the cost of independent services. In fact, they’ll sometimes even lower your overall monthly cost to stop you from dropping these services.

Frontier offers broadband internet, TV, and phone services through DSL and fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) connections.

Modem costs add up quickly

The cost of Internet isn’t usually that bad — it’s the miscellaneous fees, extras, and add-ons that push it up. One of the easiest miscellaneous fees to get rid of is the monthly modem/router rental cost, usually between five and ten dollars.[1]

Sure, it doesn’t sound like much, but buying your own modem and router instead will usually pay for itself within the year. After that, it’s just an extra hundred dollars or so a year in your pocket. Keep in mind, however, that providers usually have specific modem brands and models they’re compatible with. If you plan to switch providers or relocate regularly, renting hardware might be worth the cost.