NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] Re: MetroPCS 4G Data-Blocking Plans May Violate Net Neutrality
Our letter to the FCC urging a MetroPCS investigation. This appears even to violate the toothless standards of the agency's latest rule, which is saying a lot. http://www.freepress.net/resource/letter-urging-fcc-investigate-metropcs -tk -----Original Message----- From: nnsquad-bounces+tkarr=freepress.net@nnsquad.org [mailto:nnsquad-bounces+tkarr=freepress.net@nnsquad.org] On Behalf Of Lauren Weinstein Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2011 11:43 AM To: nnsquad@nnsquad.org Subject: [ NNSquad ] MetroPCS 4G Data-Blocking Plans May Violate Net Neutrality ----- Forwarded message from David Farber <dave@farber.net> ----- Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2011 08:54:25 -0500 From: David Farber <dave@farber.net> Subject: [IP] MetroPCS 4G Data-Blocking Plans May Violate Net Neutrality Reply-To: dave@farber.net To: ip <ip@listbox.com> An interesting test case? http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2011/01/metropcs-net-neutrality/2/ MetroPCS is offering three monthly plans for its 4G service: a $40, $50 and $60 plan. Parsing them is quite a challenge. The $40 plan offers "unlimited talk, text, 4G web browsing with unlimited YouTube access." Evidently, visiting other video sites is not included in unlimited web browsing. And unlimited browsing appears to have a limit of 1-GB per month, though it's all very vague. For $10 more, you get international text messaging, "mobile instant messaging, corporate e-mail and 1 GB of additional data access, with premium features available through MetroSTUDIO(tm) when connected via Wi-Fi, including audio capabilities to listen and download music and access to preview and trial video content." The $60 a month plan adds "unlimited data access and MetroSTUDIO premium content such as 18 video-on-demand channels and audio downloads." It's not clear what services MetroPCS will allow or block on each plan. But blocking any online video site arbitrarily looks to be a clear violation of the new net neutrality rules. Or, as the FCC wrote in its 180-page order: "End users expect to be able to access any lawful website through their broadband service, whether fixed or mobile. Web browsing continues to generate the largest amount of mobile data traffic, and applications and services are increasingly being provisioned and used entirely through the web, without requiring a standalone application to be downloaded to a device. Given that the mobile web is well-developed relative to other mobile applications and services, and enjoys similar expectations of openness that characterize web use through fixed broadband, we find it appropriate to <snip> ------------------------------------------- ----- End forwarded message -----