T-Mobile Agrees to Lift Data Caps in New York
The agreement under New York's Affordable Broadband Act follows an investigation into throttled speeds on T-Mobile's affordable internet plans.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Telecommunications
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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James announced an agreement requiring T-Mobile to improve its services under the state's Affordable Broadband Act. T-Mobile agreed to remove data caps on its Affordable Broadband Act plans in New York.
Why it matters
An investigation found T-Mobile cut download speeds by more than 97% once customers reached a 50-gigabyte monthly limit, with speeds dropping to 650 Kbps. The agreement is intended to ensure income-eligible households receive the advertised service the act requires.
The Affordable Broadband Act requires a minimum of 25 Mbps download speed for $15 per month and 200 Mbps for $20 per month. Investigators found T-Mobile's affordable plans dropped to 650 Kbps after 50 GB of monthly data use, a reduction of more than 97%.
The players
Kathy Hochul
Kathy Hochul is the Governor of New York, who announced the agreement with T-Mobile alongside the state attorney general.
Letitia James
Letitia James is the Attorney General of New York, who announced the agreement and led the investigation into T-Mobile's affordable broadband practices.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile is a major American wireless carrier that offers home internet service and was the subject of the state's investigation.
The details
T-Mobile offered affordable broadband plans only in areas with 5G coverage and coded its website to keep those plan details out of search engine results. Investigators found a typical customer could reach the data limit after about four days of internet use, while full-price plans in 4G areas still delivered 25 Mbps.
Timeline
November 9, 2026: Hochul and James announced the agreement with T-Mobile under the Affordable Broadband Act.
Roadmap
The agreement enforces New York's Affordable Broadband Act, which requires large internet providers to offer income-eligible households service at set speed and price floors. It shows state attorneys general using consumer-protection enforcement to test whether affordable-tier broadband plans deliver the speeds advertised.
Income-eligible New York households considering T-Mobile's affordable plans can expect 25 Mbps service for $15 per month under the act. Customers should be aware that speeds dropped sharply after about 50 GB of monthly use under the previous terms.
The takeaway
Households comparing affordable internet plans should confirm the advertised speed, data limits, and whether the plan is available at their address before signing up. Income-eligible customers can use state resources to check eligibility.
Further reading
For more on how state rules shape home internet access, see Telecommunications coverage on Wisevoter.
More information
Check eligibility and plan details on the New York eligibility check and plan information page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WRGB.
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