The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is assessing whether new streaming services offered by AT&T, T-Mobile US and Comcast violate net neutrality rules. All three companies offer services which allow customers to stream certain content without if affecting their data caps.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is assessing whether new streaming services offered by AT&T (NYSE:T), T-Mobile US (NASDAQ:TMUS) and Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA) violate net neutrality rules.
FCC chairman Tom Wheeler (pictured) told reporters at a news conference that the commission has sent letters to the three companies requesting meetings with relevant business and technical staff by 15 January 2016 about “some of the innovative things they are doing”.
The letters ask the companies to provide details about offers allowing customers unlimited streaming of video content from certain providers.
The FCC approved new net neutrality rules in February, which reclassified internet service providers as common carriers under Title II of the Telecommunications Act and banned paid prioritisation as well as traffic blocking and throttling.
In its letter to AT&T, the FCC said it wants “to ensure that we have all the facts to understand how these services relate to the commission’s goal of maintaining a free and open internet while incentivising innovation and investment from all sources,” Reuters reported.
At the news conference, Wheeler stressed that a formal investigation has not been launched, saying the information requests are to help the commission keep informed about practices.
AT&T’s ‘sponsored data’ promotion allows customers to stream content from providers that subsidise wireless data without impacting user data allowances.
Similarly, T-Mobile’s new ‘Binge On’ service excludes some providers’ video content from data caps.
Meanwhile, Comcast’s ‘StreamTV’ service allows customers to watch videos online for free if they use its streaming service.
The FCC also intends to call on others, including public interest groups, to weigh in on the topic.
