FCC summoning Internet providers to talk data policies


Dec 17 2015, 13:02 ET | By: Jason Aycock, SA News Editor




With new net neutrality rules in place since early this year, the FCC says it's calling on Internet service providers to discuss their innovative data policies -- with what seems like a focus on growing use of traffic exemptions from data caps.

The agency sent letters to Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA), AT&T (NYSE:T) and T-Mobile (NASDAQ:TMUS) asking them to come in and "have a discussion with us" about their approaches to data service.

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler surprisingly weighed in on T-Mobile's "Binge On" free video streaming as "highly innovative and highly competitive." And Comcast's Stream TV service wouldn't count use of Comcast services against that company's data caps, while AT&T has a similar approach via content partnerships.

So-called "zero rating" involves companies exempting certain kinds of traffic from data limits, but has drawn some criticism from observers arguing that it amounts to another form of paid traffic prioritization.

Previously: FCC chairman: T-Mobile video initiative 'highly competitive' (Nov. 19 2015)

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