Residential Data Plan FAQ
How much do I get with my Data Plan?
The base MTCO data plan includes up to 1.5 TB (1,500 GB) of usage. This plan allows for a significant volume of
Internet activity. For those who need more data, there is the option of upgrading to a higher data plan of 2 TB
or Unlimited at a discounted rate. We’ve provided some usage examples in the following chart.
MTCO DATA PLAN OPTIONS |
1.5TB |
2TB |
 |
|
$0 |
$15/mo. |
$35/mo. |
Hours of streaming online music |
24,855 hours |
33,140 hours |
Unlimited |
Stream one-minute YouTube videos (standard quality) |
3,426 videos |
4,568 videos |
Unlimited |
Watch hour-long TV shows online (high quaility) |
1,500 shows |
2,000 shows |
Unlimited |
Stream full-length movies (standard definition) |
750 SD movies |
1,000 SD movies |
Unlimited |
Stream full-length movies (high definition) |
495 HD movies |
660 HD movies |
Unlimited |
Get EVERYTHING you need for streaming, gaming, working from home, and sharing!
Speed, protection, data and peace of mind!
Just an additional $35.00 per month includes...
- Unlimited Data -- All the data you need for your whole family's streaming, gaming, and working needs!
- digiMAX Premium Managed Wi-Fi -- Enjoy a worry-free experience with Wi-Fi installed, supported, and managed by local MTCO technicians!
- Our top tier Wi-Fi 6 Router -- Our top of the line equipment powers your Internet service!
- digiMAX HomeGuard Protection -- Covers repair, replacement and service calls!
Contact Your Local MTCO Customer Service Rep Today for More Details!
What is a gigabyte? What is a terabyte?
A gigabyte (GB) and a terabyte (TB) are both units of measurement of the amount of data that is transmitted
over the Internet. A terabyte (TB) is equal to 1,000 gigabytes (GB). A typical standard definition one-hour TV
show will consume around 1 GB of data while an HD quality, two-hour movie streamed over the Internet uses
approximately 3 GBs. It is important to remember that a GB and a TB represent the amount of data sent over
the network, and not the amount of time spent using the Internet.
Will spending a lot of time on the Internet cause me to exceed my data plan?
Time alone is not the determining factor; it is the activity that matters. You could spend several hours
reading emails, for example, and use less than 1 GB of data. On the other hand, you could spend 30 minutes
downloading a movie and use 2 GB of data. It is important to remember that it is what you are doing on the
Internet, not how long you do it, that determines the amount of data that you use.
What is included in my usage?
Usage includes all of the data you have received (downloaded) or sent (uploaded). In addition, we take into
account the standard network protocols (such as Ethernet and IP activity) that are used to transmit content via
the Internet.
Does Wi-Fi usage count toward my data plan?
If you access the Internet through your wireless home network using any type of device (including
smartphones and tablets), that access will be included. However, if you access the Internet via a public or
commercial Wi-Fi hotspot or your cellular provider’s 3G/4G/5G network, that access is not counted toward
your usage.
Can anyone other than someone in my immediate household affect my bandwidth usage?
If you have not secured your home wireless gateway/router with a password, someone nearby with a
computer or Wi-Fi enabled device could access your home network and use your High-Speed Internet Service,
which could increase your monthly usage. MTCO recommends that you secure your wireless router/gateway
to prevent others from using your connection. We suggest that you use Wireless Protected Access 2 (WPA2)
for Wi-Fi security. Call 800-859-6826 for support in securing MTCO provided devices or your manufacturer’s
website for help with securing your wireless router/gateway.
What will happen if I exceed my data plan?
If you exceed your data plan, you will begin incurring overage fees at the rate indicated in the chart below.
DATA PLAN |
MONTHLY RATE |
OVERAGE FEES |
1.5TB |
Included |
$10 per 50GB |
2TB |
$15 |
$7 per 50GB |
 |
$35 |
No Overage Fees |
If at any time throughout your data usage cycle (the 25th of the previous month through the 24th of the
current month) you find you are exceeding your data plan, you have the option to upgrade to a data plan that
will better fit your needs. Contact our Customer Service at 800-859-6826 for assistance in determining if an
upgrade would be the most cost-effective solution for you.
How will I be alerted when I am close to exceeding my data plan?
To help you track and manage your usage, contact Customer Service at 800-859-6826 ...OR... complete an alert
message request form online:
HERE. Once you are enrolled, MTCO’s billing system will
automatically issue a proactive notification at 80% of your usage and again when you have reached 90% and
100%. Alert messages will be issued to your enrolled email address, and you may also sign up to receive alert
messages via SMS text message depending on your communication preferences.
Does MTCO provide a tool for me to monitor my usage?
MTCO’s online billing system (eBill) does provide your current usage up to the last hour. You can access your
eBill portal at
https://ebill.mtco.com. After logging in, select your Internet username on the lower portion of
your eBill homepage and your current usage will be displayed. The Usage Indicator will reset at 12:01 a.m. on
the 25th of each month to begin tracking your new cycle. Your previous month’s usage will be available after
the billing cycle closes. For usage history, select Usage on the Dashboard which will give you the ability to look
at various usage periods using the dropdown. In addition, your usage and Data Plan will also print on your
monthly invoice in the MTCO Internet Usage section.
What steps can I take to reduce my usage?
One step is to only watch HD video when the screen size requires it. For example, you would want to watch
an HD streaming video on your flat-screen TV but SD video will look just fine on a tablet or cell phone. All the
major Internet video providers provide options to stream either standard definition (SD) or high definition
(HD) video. If you tend to binge-watch Netflix video series, be sure to stop the video stream when you are
finished watching. Otherwise, this is akin to “leaving the water running” and your usage will increase due to
the constant streaming even though you are no longer watching the video. This also relates to the streaming
of YouTube videos, so it is wise to turn off the Auto Play feature. If you are a Bit Torrent user, then you may
want to limit the ability of other people to access the content on your computer as this can accumulate a high
volume of usage on your connection as well. Visit our
How To Manage Data Usage guide for more details and ideas to
reduce data usage.