Net Neutrality

Internet
January 19, 2016
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Verizon Net Neutrality

Verizon, one of net neutrality’s biggest foes, says it’s ready to test sponsored data

By on January 19, 2016 at 8:20 AM.

Verizon, one of net neutrality’s biggest foes, says it’s ready to test sponsored data

Of all the companies that have opposed net neutrality over the years, Verizon is likely the most outspoken and shameless among them. As consumers fought to support guidelines that would ensure a level playing field on the web, Verizon spent big money lobbying against net neutrality for fear that it might eat into the company’s bottom line. Then, in an ironic twist, the Federal Communications Commission ended up green-lighting net neutrality rules that were even more consumer friendly than the ones Verizon spent the most time and energy lobbying against.

We all knew that the new rules wouldn’t stop Verizon from finding and taking advantage of loopholes in the new net neutrality laws though, and now the company has confirmed that it’s ready to give net neutrality a nice big slap in the face. More →

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Internet
January 12, 2016
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T-Mobile CEO John Legere EFF

T-Mobile CEO apologizes to EFF, still says Binge On is pro net neutrality

By on January 12, 2016 at 6:50 AM.

T-Mobile CEO apologizes to EFF, still says Binge On is pro net neutrality

The controversy over T-Mobile’s free-to-binge Binge On data program is not over, and CEO John Legere felt on Monday that he had more explaining to do, especially after blasting the EFF last week while talking to consumers on Twitter. Legere apologized for attacking the EFF, but he did not apologize for Binge On, or his language – in fact, he continued to explain in his lengthy post on T-Mobile’s blog how Binge On is pro net neutrality. More →

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Mobile
January 7, 2016
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T-Mobile John Legere Binge On

T-Mobile CEO blasts Binge On critics in a 1080p video you can’t stream if you use Binge On

By on January 7, 2016 at 11:21 AM.

T-Mobile CEO blasts Binge On critics in a 1080p video you can’t stream if you use Binge On

T-Mobile’s Binge On program that lets you watch unlimited video from certain content providers sounds like the best thing that could ever happen to your data plan – and it might be, especially if you like to watch videos on your phone. Who cares that the video you watch isn’t the best possible quality, right?

Even so, the Un-carrier is running into some problems with the program, as it’s facing intense criticism from Google and others. The search giant discovered that YouTube videos get throttled – something that T-Mobile calls optimization – even though YouTube isn’t included in the list of Binge On partners. Furthermore, the EFF found out that T-Mobile’s throttling applies automatically and indiscriminately to all video, which doesn’t sound very good since Binge On is an opt-out service, meaning it’s turned on by default on your data plan. It can be disabled easily, though — just follow these steps.

Facing all that criticism, T-Mobile execs including the company’s outspoken CEO John Legere came out guns blazing in defense on Bing On, arguing that special interests are at play for critics of the service. More →

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Mobile
December 30, 2015
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T-Mobile Binge On YouTube Throttling

T-Mobile denies throttling YouTube videos, says it’s ‘optimized’ them

By on December 30, 2015 at 4:45 PM.

T-Mobile denies throttling YouTube videos, says it’s ‘optimized’ them

T-Mobile’s Binge On program is yet another move from the “Un-carrier” that’s supposed to help it steal more customers from the competition. With Binge On turned on – a default setting on all T-Mobile devices – video traffic from certain mobile apps isn’t counted towards a users’ monthly cap. That’s great, in theory, though it might not sit well with net neutrality supporters. More →

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Mobile
December 3, 2015
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AT&T Vs. FCC Net Neutrality

AT&T swears it was about to offer you a bunch of amazing deals, but then net neutrality happened

By on December 3, 2015 at 8:20 AM.

AT&T swears it was about to offer you a bunch of amazing deals, but then net neutrality happened

Friends, AT&T has some tragic news for you. You see, it had planned to unveil several awesome promotions, deals and initiatives that you would have loved… but then the mean old Federal Communications Commission and its net neutrality rules had to get involved. More →

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Internet
December 1, 2015
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Opinions
Comcast Streaming TV Service

Is Comcast’s new Stream TV service as bad as it seems for net neutrality? No, it’s even worse

By on December 1, 2015 at 8:49 AM.

Is Comcast’s new Stream TV service as bad as it seems for net neutrality? No, it’s even worse

Comcast often seems to be in the news for all the wrong reasons and lately, that has been the case even more so than usual. The company recently announced that it was expanding its data cap program into eight additional markets for a total of 27, and we explained why the company’s data caps are a huge problem not just for Comcast subscribers, but for all of us. Then our attention turned to the company’s new Stream TV service, for which Comcast took a page out of T-Mobile’s net neutrality bending playbook.

But is Stream TV really as bad for net neutrality as it seems? Sadly, it’s even worse than many people think. More →

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Internet
November 11, 2015
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Opinions
T-Mobile Binge On Net Neutrality

T-Mobile is fixing the wireless industry by hurting the open Internet

By on November 11, 2015 at 9:48 AM.

T-Mobile is fixing the wireless industry by hurting the open Internet

As a diehard Batman fan, T-Mobile CEO John Legere will appreciate this simile: Right now T-Mobile reminds me a little bit of the Joker in the first Tim Burton Batman movie tossing out free money to the people of Gotham only so he can hit them with poison gas once they’re all gathered in one place. OK, so I obviously don’t think Legere and company are literally evil and planning to gas us all. But I’ve spent a day thinking through the implications of the “Un-carrier’s” new “Binge On” move and I find myself feeling a real sense of unease about the whole thing. Basically, I think that Binge On sounds like a great deal that could also incur some serious trade offs that will make the web less open that it is today. More →

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Internet
September 23, 2015
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Jeb Bush Net Neutrality NSA

Jeb’s plan to woo Silicon Valley: Gut net neutrality, kill encryption, bulk up NSA

By on September 23, 2015 at 9:30 PM.

Jeb’s plan to woo Silicon Valley: Gut net neutrality, kill encryption, bulk up NSA

Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush — or just “Jeb!” as he’s called in his campaign signs — probably won’t win the endorsement of the Electronic Frontier Foundation given his positions on tech policy. In fact, we can’t imagine many Silicon Valley types are pleased with Jeb’s latest declarations this week that as president he’ll kill net neutrality rules while at the same time bulking up the data collection powers of the National Security Agency. More →

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Internet
July 1, 2015
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FCC Commissioner Speech

WTF of the Week: FCC Commissioner Says People Don’t Need the Internet

By on July 1, 2015 at 9:35 AM.

WTF of the Week: FCC Commissioner Says People Don’t Need the Internet

The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government with the sole purpose of regulating cable, satellite, radio and television, as well as wired and wireless communications. According to the commissioner of the FCC, that role does not include ensuring that all Americans have access to the Internet. More →

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Internet
June 24, 2015
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Internet Speed Test

The ‘Internet Health Test’ Works: TWC, Verizon and More Accused of Slowing Data Speeds

By on June 24, 2015 at 8:55 AM.

The ‘Internet Health Test’ Works: TWC, Verizon and More Accused of Slowing Data Speeds

Remember back in late May when we told you about the Internet Health Test? The simple test analyzed users’ Internet connections from end to end, and it aimed to determine whether or not Internet service providers might be violating the Federal Communication Commission’s new net neutrality rules by intentionally slowing data connections.

This week, the group behind the Internet Health Test has released the results of a study that analyzed tests performed by more than 300,000 Internet users, and it appears as though the test has served its purpose: Five major ISPs in the United States have been accused of deliberately slowing data from popular websites in dozens of cities across the country. More →

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Mobile
June 18, 2015
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Sprint Data Throttling

Net Neutrality Racks Up Another Win as Sprint Stops Throttling Subscribers

By on June 18, 2015 at 8:30 AM.

Net Neutrality Racks Up Another Win as Sprint Stops Throttling Subscribers

Who knew when a former top cable industry lobbyist took the helm at the Federal Communications Commission that it would lead to this much positive change for consumers? The FCC’s much-lauded new net neutrality rules took effect this past Friday, and we’re already seeing the effects they’re having on the Internet. The new rules aim to prevent ISPs from implementing anti-consumer schemes like paid traffic prioritization, data blocking and bandwidth throttling, and there is already a major shift taking place in the industry.

On Wednesday, the FCC levied a massive $100 million fine against AT&T for throttling users’ unlimited wireless data. Now, news that Sprint has shelved its data-throttling policy marks yet another win for wireless customers in the United States. More →

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Internet
May 20, 2015
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Net Neutrality Ruling

Internet Health Test aims to tell you if your ISP is violating net neutrality

By on May 20, 2015 at 3:16 PM.

Internet Health Test aims to tell you if your ISP is violating net neutrality

The Federal Communications Commission surprised us all earlier this year when it put forth new net neutrality guidelines that were hugely pro-consumer. Yes, there may be a loophole or two. And yes, some internet service providers are already looking for different ways to hurt subscribers that don’t violate net neutrality. In the current climate, however, we’re not sure a more favorable set of rules could have been crafted by the FCC and its former cable lobbyist boss, Tom Wheeler.

Of course, creating better net neutrality guidelines is one thing — but policing ISPs and ensuring they adhere to the new rules is an entirely different can of worms. More →

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Internet
April 14, 2015
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Opinions
Net Neutrality Verizon AT&T Comcast Lawsuit

ISPs have two choices: Live with net neutrality rules or live with real competition

By on April 14, 2015 at 10:00 PM.

ISPs have two choices: Live with net neutrality rules or live with real competition

I’ve had conversations in the past with people from Europe who just don’t understand why America needs to have network neutrality restrictions. Their argument is that if one of the ISPs in their country tried to throttle Netflix to make its own other-the-top video service run faster, people would flee to a rival ISP and thus put them out of business. It’s at this point that I laugh at them and say, “What I wouldn’t give to have even two choices for broadband services!” More →

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