Using the Web might get a lot pricier

Here's how usage caps being tested right now break down:

Comcast

The cap: Comcast, which has the most generous cap, allows users 250 gigabytes of bandwidth per month. A household could download more than 62,000 songs, more than 125 standard-definition movies or 62 high-definition movies a month and still not exceed the limit.

Comcast says less than 1% of its users currently bump up against the wall. "We do it because extraordinary heavy usage of our service will impair the online experience of other customers that are near that excessive user," says Charlie Douglas, a spokesman for Comcast.

The penalty: Customers receive a warning the first time they exceed the cap. Comcast may suspend service for a year after the second offense if it occurs within six months of the first.

Cox

The cap: Cox offers its customers plans ranging between 4 and 75 gigabytes of bandwidth per month. At the lower end, households can download two standard-definition movies or one high-definition movie a month. With the 75-gigabyte plan, users can download 20,000 digital songs, at least 37 standard-definition movies or at least 18 high-definition movies a month.

Cox says a number of factors go into choosing how the company sets its limits. The company also updates its bandwidth limits regularly. "We recognize that as customers use (bandwidth) for more intense purposes, we will work to increase those (caps) over time," says David Deliman, a Cox spokesman.

The penalty: Customers receive a warning the first time they exceed the cap. Cox can suspend or terminate service, or require additional fees if excessive usage is not corrected, according to the user agreement on its Web site. A company spokesman says Cox does not currently charge customers who exceed the cap and it only suspends or terminates service as a "last resort."

Time Warner Cable

The cap: In its test in Beaumont, Time Warner Cable lets new customers choose a plan ranging between 5 and 40 gigabytes of bandwidth a month. At 5 gigabytes, a household could download only two to three standard-definition movies or one high-definition movie a month. At 40 gigabytes, folks could download more than 20 standard-definition movies or 10 high-definition movies a month.

Time Warner Cable says only 5% of its customers use more than 40 GB of bandwidth a month. "Bandwidth costs money," says Alex Dudley, a spokesman for Time Warner Cable. "No matter how you slice it, if Internet usage is to grow, it costs money, and someone will have to fund it."

The penalty: Customers are charged $1 for every gigabyte that exceeds the cap.

AT&T

The cap: New AT&T customers in Reno must choose from a plan that allows between 20 and 150 gigabytes of bandwidth usage a month. At the top tier, households can download 75 standard-definition movies or 37 high-definition movies per month.

AT&T says it's simply a trial that will help it evaluate ways of dealing with surging usage trends while continuing to meet customer needs for a high-quality broadband experience at an affordable price.

The penalty: Customers are charged $1 for every gigabyte that exceeds the cap.

Continued: How much data do you use?

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