for two phone lines.

為兩條電話線。

The total comes to over $142.

總共達到142餘元。

There are charges for 4G LTE access, international calling,

4G LTE接入、國際通話都要收費。

and a bunch of fees and taxes.

以及一堆的費用和稅收。

It's confusing and expensive.

它的混亂和昂貴。

But it's not just this bill.

但不僅僅是這個法案。

Compared to similar markets,

與同類市場相比。

the US has the fifth-most-expensive mobile data.

美國的移動數據費用排名第五。

These prices aren't set at random.

這些價格不是隨意設定的。

There are a lot of factors that affect

影響的因素有很多

what 1 gigabyte costs.

1千兆字節的成本是多少。

And these high costs are hurting everyone.

而這些高額的費用讓大家都很受傷。

Let's go back to that graph.

讓我們回到那張圖上。

The US has four major carriers:

美國有四大航母。

Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint.

Verizon、AT&T、T-Mobile和Sprint。

But even though the US has multiple carriers,

但即使美國有多艘航母。

their prices aren't competitive

價高者得

like other countries with four carriers.

像其他國家一樣，有四家航母。

Research firm Rewheel found that median

研究公司Rewheel發現，中位數

mobile gigabyte prices in the US were 16 times higher

在美國，移動千兆字節的價格是16倍。

than European markets with four carriers.

比歐洲市場的四家運營商。

Because of these high prices, consumers have to choose

因為這些高昂的價格，消費者只能選擇

the lesser of multiple evils when picking a data plan.

在挑選數據計劃時，多害相權取其輕。

You either pay for a set amount of data

您可以為一定數量的數據付費

but get charged when you use extra,

但用多了就會被收費。

or you pay more up front for unlimited data.

或者你先付更多的錢，以獲得無限的數據。

But unlimited data doesn't mean unlimited speeds.

但無限數據並不意味著無限速度。

After a certain point, you're going to get throttled.

到了一定程度，你就會被節制。

With AT&T's unlimited plan, for example,

比如AT&T的無限計劃。

speeds may be slowed after you use 22 GB of data.

在您使用22GB的數據後，速度可能會變慢。

And you may find yourself throttled anyway,

而且你可能會發現自己反正是被節流了。

no matter what plan you choose.

無論您選擇何種計劃。

A study from Northeastern found that video streaming

東北大學的一項研究發現，視頻流媒體

was throttled even when the network

即使是在網絡上，也被節流了

wasn't under a heavy load.

不是在重物之下。

Even one of Verizon's unlimited plans explicitly offers

即使是Verizon的一個無限計劃，也明確提供了。

"DVD-quality" 480p streaming.

"DVD品質 "480p流媒體。

That's standard def, by the way.

順便說一下，這是標準的def。

Man: Of course it sounds strange at first.

天啊當然，這聽起來很奇怪，在第一。

The advertisement says it will.

廣告說會。

[Narrator] Now, there are several

[旁白]現在，有幾個

mobile virtual network operator companies.

移動虛擬網絡運營商公司。

Mint Fox: Hey there!

Mint Fox:嘿，你好！

It's me, Mint Fox!

是我，Mint Fox！

[Narrator] MVNOs piggyback off the cell towers

[旁白]MVNOs piggyback off the cell towers(MVNO)。

of one or more major carriers.

一個或多個主要運營商的。

Companies like Mint and Google Fi offer cheaper plans,

Mint和Google Fi等公司提供了更便宜的計劃。

but these aren't nearly as popular

但這些並不受歡迎

as traditional cellphone plans.

作為傳統的手機計劃。

And their speeds may be limited,

而且他們的速度可能會受到限制。

with priority given to the main network customers.

並優先考慮主網客戶。

OK, so mobile data is expensive.

OK，所以移動數據很貴。

But 4G data isn't a physical thing.

但4G數據不是實物。

If you use an extra gigabyte of data,

如果你使用額外的千兆字節的數據。

Verizon doesn't have to make another gig

Verizon不用再做一個gig了

to replace what you used.

替換你使用的東西。

So why does someone who used 10 GB

那麼為什麼有人用10GB

have to pay more than someone who used 2?

要比用了2個的人付出更多？

To understand what you're paying for,

要了解自己的付出。

we have to look at how data gets to your phone.

我們得看看數據是如何進入你的手機的。

When you use 4G data, your phone is sending

當你使用4G數據時，你的手機會發送

packets of information to a cell tower.

資訊包到蜂窩塔。

That tower then sends information back and forth

那座大廈就會來回發送信息

over miles and miles of fiber-optic cables,

在數英里長的光纜上。

sometimes even submarine cables.

有時甚至是海底電纜。

It costs a lot to run and maintain that infrastructure.

基礎設施的運行和維護成本很高。

You're paying for things like repairs, updates,

你要為維修、更新等事情付出代價。

administrative costs, and the electricity

行政費用，以及電費

it takes to run everything.

它需要運行一切。

But remember all those taxes and fees?

但還記得那些稅費嗎？

You might be getting charged more

你可能會被收取更多的費用

depending on where you live.

取決於你住在哪裡。

In the US, cellphone taxes vary widely by state,

在美國，各州的手機稅差別很大。

and even within a state.

甚至在一個州內。

Just look at New York.

看看紐約就知道了。

In 2018, cellphone taxes were almost

2018年，手機稅幾乎

six times higher than Nevada.

是內華達州的六倍。

There's also a serious lack of investment in rural areas.

農村的投資也嚴重不足。

Cities and places with a denser population

人口密集的城市和地方

get new technologies like 5G first,

先拿到5G等新技術。

while rural areas have to deal with slower speeds.

而農村地區則要面對較慢的速度。

In 2018, average mobile download speeds in Massachusetts

2018年，馬薩諸塞州的平均移動下載速度。

were more than double speeds in Wyoming.

是懷俄明州的兩倍多速度。

And more remote geographical regions

以及更偏遠的地理區域

often come with higher data costs.

往往伴隨著較高的數據成本。

No matter where you live, the amount you pay per gigabyte

無論你住在哪裡，你每千兆字節所支付的金額都是一樣的。

doesn't really equal the cost to maintain the network.

並不真正等於維護網絡的成本。

It's competition that controls data prices.

控制數據價格的是競爭。

In 2017, both AT&T and Verizon brought back unlimited plans

2017年，AT&T和Verizon都帶回了無限計劃

in response to plans offered by T-Mobile,

針對T-Mobile提供的計劃。

and research has shown that prices in three-carrier markets

而研究表明，三載波市場的價格。

are higher than four-carrier markets.

都高於四運市場。

But these problems are much worse

但這些問題要嚴重得多

in certain parts of the world.

在世界某些地區。

Only about 51% of the world is using the internet.

全世界只有約51%的人在使用互聯網。

High data costs are one of the biggest factors

數據成本高是最大的因素之一

that prevent developing countries from getting online.

妨礙開發中國家上網的問題。

Research from the Alliance for Affordable Internet

促進負擔得起的互聯網聯盟的研究

found that in low- and middle-income countries,

發現在低收入和中等收入國家：

1 GB of mobile data costs 5.5%

1GB的移動數據費用為5.5%。

of the average monthly income.

平均月收入的。

That's five times higher than what the organization

這比該組織的收入高出五倍。

considers affordable internet.

認為實惠的互聯網。

To give you an idea of how high that is,

為了讓你知道這有多高。

5.5% of a $50,000 US salary

美國50,000美元工資的5.5%。

would be almost $230 per month

將近每月230美元

for just 1 GB of data.

只需1GB的數據。

Announcer: The dwelling without a phone

播音員：沒有電話的住宅

is cut off from the world,

是與世隔絕的。

regardless of its closeness to other buildings.

無論其是否與其他建築物相鄰。

[Narrator] But there are solutions to this problem.

[旁白]但這個問題是有解決辦法的。

Some countries are putting specific focus

一些國家特別重視

on lowering mobile data prices.

關於降低移動數據價格。

Dhanaraj Thakur: Malaysia are putting out an effort

達納拉吉-塔庫爾：馬來西亞正在努力。

to ensure there is competition in the market

以確保市場競爭

to make it easier for people to come in,

以方便人們來。

like new companies to come in and sell services.

喜歡新公司進來賣服務。

[Narrator] That's Dhanaraj Thakur.

那是Dhanaraj Thakur.

He's the research director at the Alliance

他是聯盟的研究總監

for Affordable Internet and the Web Foundation.

為負擔得起的互聯網和網絡基金會。

Dhanaraj pointed out that Malaysia

Dhanaraj指出，馬來西亞

has also invested in subsidizing access

還投資於補貼獲得

to lower-income groups.

低收入群體；

Thakur: Some countries are really making an effort

塔庫爾：一些國家確實在努力

to try and push these powers that can improve affordability.

以試圖推動這些能夠提高承受能力的權力。

[Narrator] Competition, government investment,

[旁白]競爭，政府投資。

and infrastructure sharing can all help lower data costs.

和基礎設施共享都有助於降低數據成本。

But consumers in low-income areas

但低收入地區的消費者

don't always get this investment.

不一定能得到這種投資。

In June, the FCC took an initial step

6月，FCC邁出了第一步

towards limiting the spending of universal-service programs,

限制普遍服務方案的開支；

a program that, according to the FCC,

根據聯邦通信委員會的計劃，該計劃。

is designed "to make broadband as ubiquitous as voice."

是為了 "讓寬帶像語音一樣無處不在"。

Capping the USF could limit broadband access

上限USF可能會限制寬帶接入。

in rural areas and classrooms.

在農村地區和課堂上；

And competition may be getting even harder to find

而競爭可能會越來越難找

in the US, as Sprint and T-Mobile are trying to merge.

在美國，由於Sprint和T-Mobile正試圖合併。

A lot of people are concerned that

很多人都擔心

if the US consolidates to a three-carrier market,

如果美國整合為三航母市場。

the lack of competition will increase costs for consumers.

缺乏競爭會增加消費者的成本。

We don't know for sure what will happen

我們不知道會發生什麼事

if T-Mobile and Sprint merge.

如果T-Mobile和Sprint合併。

They claim the merger will allow them to lower prices

他們聲稱合併後可以降低價格

and create new jobs.

並創造新的就業機會。

But when AT&T and Cingular merged in 2004,

但當2004年AT&T和Cingular合併後。

thousands of workers were laid off.

數千名工人被裁員。

What we do know is that higher data costs

我們知道的是，較高的數據成本

and lax regulations on carriers hurt consumers,

以及對運營商監管不嚴，傷害了消費者。

although even in a market that isn't competitive,

雖然即使在競爭不激烈的市場。

you may still have some choice.

你可能還有一些選擇。

Don't just accept your expensive bill.

不要只接受你昂貴的賬單。

Take some time to shop around

花點時間逛逛吧

or tell your carrier you're thinking of switching

或告訴你的運營商你正在考慮換機。

to see if they can offer you something better.

看看他們是否能給你提供更好的東西。

You might be able to find a cheaper plan.

你也許能找到一個更便宜的計劃。