One of the biggest changes in the broadband sector over the last few years is the emergence of long-term contracts, a frequent tool of wireless phone operators. Long-term contracts are designed to reduce "churn" (migration to other ISPs or VoIP providers) and usually lock customers in at a fixed price for one or two years.

This week our users point out that Time Warner Cable is now offering discounts up to 10% off triple play bundles if customers sign one or two-year contracts. It looks like this is restricted to NYC area customers for now. Time Warner is actually late to the contract game.

In order to keep customers from defecting to Verizon FiOS, Comcast has been sending this letter to some customers offering them VoIP, 6Mbps broadband and standard digital cable for $99 for the term of the contract.

Our users noticed that these offerings began sometime around last December. The service features a $150 early termination fee if customers either cancel or downgrade their service during the two-year commitment. The deal is only offered in competitive markets.

Qwest last summer began offering new DSL customers a fixed price for life if they sign two-year contracts. Our users have noted that the deal doesn't always make sense, since bandwidth prices consistently drop, and you can frequently negotiate a new rate at the end of your one-year Qwest contract.

Verizon, too, for years has been offering lower prices to customers who sign one-year contracts. The company recently began a campaign that raises rates for Verizon customers on month-to-month plans in an effort to lock them into contracts.