Brightspeed Internet Review: Plans, Pricing, Speed and Availability

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Brightspeed rating

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Pros

• A fixed rate for all plans

Cons

• Availability in 20 states

Offering phone and home broadband services, this internet service provider is fairly fresh on the scene and somewhat of a coin toss. One side (its fiber internet plans) is good, shiny and new, but on the flip side (if you only have access to its copper DSL network) is a proverbial bad penny of older technology and inconsistent speeds. Whether you have access to DSL or fiber, Brightspeed still has much to offer. Let's take a closer look.

Brightspeed began in August 2021, and in 2022, Brightspeed acquired Lumen's ILEC (incumbent local exchange carrier) operations in 20 states. In other words, Brightspeed took over parts of the fiber and copper/DSL network that used to fall under the CenturyLink banner.

DSL connections comprise most of its network, but I commend Brightspeed's tenacity in expanding its fiber footprint. Just recently, Brightspeed announced it was bringing high-speed fiber internet to almost 7,300 families in northwestern Arkansas. Soon after, Brightspeed announced in a company press release that it was investing in Ribbon's Comprehensive Network Transformation Solution to improve its network infrastructure.

"Building a fiber broadband network across more than 160 communities in our footprint requires an investment in ensuring we can accelerate scalability," Brightspeed Chief Technology Officer Brian Bond writes in a company press release.

Brightspeed has great potential due to its wide range of tiers and value. All plans have a fixed rate, so you don't have to worry about any surprise rate hikes down the line. In addition to variety, Brightspeed comes in strong by offering unlimited data and ditching long-term agreements.

Brightspeed Internet plans and pricing

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

With Brightspeed, there are eight DSL plans and four fiber options. If your address is only serviceable for DSL, you might be stuck with slower speeds, including as low as 1.5 megabits per second or a ceiling of 140Mbps. The exact speed you get will depend on your location. With fiber, you'll have access to symmetrical speeds that reach up to 2,000Mbps. Unlike DSL, fiber connections are far more reliable and consistent, featuring symmetrical download and upload speeds. The DSL plans come with an additional $15 monthly equipment fee, but the fiber tiers include the equipment rental in your monthly price. All fiber and DSL plans boast unlimited data and no contracts.

Brightspeed separates itself from many other ISPs by offering a fixed rate across all plans, meaning your price won't increase after the promo period ends. Introductory pricing can be alluring as it provides a lower monthly bill for the first one to two years. After the promo period ends, you're left paying double the amount you initially paid. Competitors, like Ziply Fiber, might feature a cheaper starting plan, but it increases by $25 after a year. Brightspeed offers a competitive starting rate that won't ratchet up after 12 months. That's a great value that many ISPs can't match.

Here's where Brightspeed offers internet service

Brightspeed is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and serves over 6.5 million customers in the Midwest and Southeast regions of the US. Its home internet coverage spans across 20 of the following states.

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Georgia 
• Indiana
• Illinois
• Kansas
• Lousiana
• Michigan
• Mississippi 
• Missouri
• New Jersey
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Virginia
• Wisconsin

It's worth noting that while the Federal Communications Commission highlights 20 states where Brightspeed internet is available, that does not apply to its fiber internet service. A Brightspeed spokesperson tells CNET that its fiber network is still growing and only accessible in some of its serviceable areas.

"Brightspeed is making a multi-billion-dollar investment in building our high-speed fiber network to more than three million locations across 17 states. We have made significant progress since we launched in October 2022."

"Brightspeed Fiber Internet service is already available to more than 1.2 million families and businesses in more than 160 communities across our footprint."

What kind of internet connection does Brightspeed offer?

Brightspeed offers both copper (DSL) and fiber connections. This will all depend on what is available at your address. According to the latest data from the FCC, Brightspeed's fiber network takes a back seat, providing only 0.312% of unit coverage across the country, compared to its DSL network, which offers 3% of unit coverage.

"While a growing number of our customers are transitioning to our fiber network, a portion of our base still utilizes existing copper plans," a Brightspeed spokesperson tells CNET.

"We are continuously working to upgrade our infrastructure to transition more copper customers to our fiber network for improved service quality, reliability and speed."

Straightforward terms for Brightspeed home internet

At first glance, Brightspeed's service terms seem straightforward: no data caps and no contracts. The broadband labels above don't paint the full picture. Let's examine the details more closely.

Additional monthly fees

DSL customers must lease Brightspeed's all-in-one modem and router gateway device for an additional $15 monthly. Brightspeed recommends using its equipment as the optimal choice, but customers can skip that fee by using their own equipment. You can also purchase the device upfront, valued between $150 and $200. If you purchase your equipment, your modem comes with a year-long warranty for replacement and or any repair costs. Fiber internet plans include the equipment rental in the monthly fee.

Secure Wi-Fi, powered by McAfee's technology, will be available for customers renting their equipment. It shields your home network and connected devices from online viruses and threats.

One-time installation fees

Brightspeed waives the installation fee for some customers. According to Brightspeed's broadband labels, only fiber customers are eligible for a free standard installation valued at $100. For DSL customers, it's not quite that simple. Customers on Brightspeed Internet plans 100 to 140 are eligible for free installation; otherwise, any other DSL plan will require a one-time fee of $99.

No data caps

Brightspeed features unlimited data on all plans. Whether you're a DSL or fiber customer, you don't have to worry about paying data overage fees if you go over a monthly data cap.

Perks and promos

Brightspeed has a limited-time offer for its fiber plans. Customers who sign up for the 500Mbps plan may be eligible for a $100 prepaid Mastercard. Even more, the 1,000Mbps plan comes with a $200 gift card, and the top-end 2,000Mbps plan features a $300 card. It's worth noting these offers only apply to fiber plans and will be valid for up to six months.

Brightspeed vs. its competitors: Customer satisfaction could improve

Customer satisfaction for Brightspeed is far from perfect. As a relatively new company, Brightspeed did not place on the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index. The 2023 J.D. Power survey offers us some insights. The J.D. Power survey, measured on a 1,000-point scale, shows us that Brightspeed placed near the bottom for the South, scoring 647 points and performing way below the region's average of 728. Comparatively, Google Fiber took home the trophy for the best customer satisfaction in the South, earning a score of 839. Still, Brightspeed has broader coverage than Google Fiber. In that same survey, Optimum, which has the largest fiber network for a cable provider, slightly bested Brightspeed, earning a score of 676.

Reddit discussions online are also mixed. Some users say Brightspeed is reliable, but others point to billing issues, inconsistent speeds, and frequent outages.

Brightspeed can improve customer satisfaction, you'll find more value with Brightspeed than with Optimum. For example, Optimum is known to raise its prices after a year. Optimum's gigabit plan is priced at $80 a month, but that price jumps to $110 in the second year, whereas Brightspeed's gigabit plan features a fixed rate of $75 a month.

What's the bottom line on Brightspeed?

Brightspeed has great potential due to the value of its services and the variety it offers. The kind of service you get depends on the flip of a coin. Many customers will have to deal with inconsistent speeds from a DSL connection. If you can get Brightspeed Fiber, you won't need to look elsewhere. If your address is only serviceable for its DSL network, you're better off seeking other alternatives like fixed wireless or cable.

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