Xfinity AT&T Sonic & BUSD education plan
With a local poverty rate of eighteen percent, low-income internet plans are a prominent option in Berkeley.
Xfinity offers the best price-to-speed value among Berkeley plans. Pricing starts at $9.95 per month, with equivalent pricing for customers who sign up using an ACP discount.
The partnership between Sonic and Berkeley Unified was reported at a $2.4M price tag, and widely used to connect families with children in school during 2022. It's not yet evident in 2023 if this project will be renewed, given that school has moved back to in-person.
Xfinity low-income plans
Xfinity (Comcast) offers 2 low-income internet plans in Berkeley: Xfinity Internet Essentials and Xfinity Internet Essentials Plus.
Xfinity is the dominant low-income internet provider in Berkeley and Alameda County thanks to low pricing compared with other options like AT&T.
Xfinity Internet Essentials
- Download speed: 50 Mbps (50 Mbps upload)
- Monthly price: $9.95 plus tax
- Fees: Taxes only.
Xfinity Internet Essentials Plus
- Download speed: 100 Mbps (100 Mbps upload)
- Monthly price: $29.95 plus tax
- Fees: Taxes only.
AT&T low-income plans
AT&T currently offers just one plan option for low-income customers in Berkeley, called AT&T Access 10.
The key issue with AT&T's low-income offerings is network availability. Only 6% of Berkeley has fiber access in 2024; that means most locations are still on their older copper lines.
Overall, AT&T's plans are best for customers using an ACP discount on an AT&T Fiber plan. Low-income customers should look to Xfinity Essentials for a better speed-to-price value.
AT&T Access 10
- Download speed: 10 Mbps (10 Mbps upload)
- Monthly price: $10 plus tax
- Fees: Taxes only.
Local low-income plans
Sonic & BUSD education plan
- Download speed: 1+ Gbps Mbps
- Monthly price: Free
