AT&T Zero-Rating of DirecTV Data May Violate Net Neutrality, FCC Says
The Federal Communications Commission says AT&T may be violating net neutrality rules by allowing DirecTV video to stream without counting against mobile data caps while charging other companies for the same privilege.
The FCC’s wireless bureau outlined its concerns in a letter sent to AT&T yesterday. AT&T owns DirecTV and “zero-rates” its video so that it doesn’t count against the data caps imposed on smartphones and other mobile devices. At the same time, AT&T charges other companies for the right to stream video or other media without counting against customers’ data caps. AT&T calls the charges
This is not a violation of the so-called “bright-line” net neutrality rules that ban throttling, blocking, and paid fast lanes. But the FCC’s Open Internet Order lets the commission stop other practices that harm competitors or consumers.
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