Request a CableCARD. They legally have to provide one, and in some cases may give you a small "customer owned equipment" credit.

I've returned my Comcast cable boxes in the past, but then they just ship you a new one because they notice you don't have any equipment on your account. It doesn't cost me anything, but when I lose it and later cancel service, you can bet i'll be charged for it.

We canceled service and returned our Comcast box to the local office once a local WISP became available. A week later, a bill arrived in the mail charging us for the box. Apparently, the billing system doesn't first check the equipment return system and it took 45 minutes with Customer Service for the barely trained CS agent to figure out how to go off script and recognize the equipment was indeed already in their possession. After years of being over charged for under performing service, I can only hope for more WISPs to spring up and eat Comcast's lunch.

It's probably wishful thinking, but I hope Elon saves us with SpaceX broadband.

Frontier did that to me with their router. I run all ubiquiti gear and don't want their junk (or any fees they may charge me for "renting" it). They forced me to take it even after I refused to be paying. Year later haven't been billed for it yet. Such a waste. I have a feeling one day they'll try to use it as an excuse to bill me a lot.