Verizon Gives Non-Response To Blatant Net Neutrality Violation I've asked several Verizon representatives to explain how Verizon's decision to exempt its Go90 streaming video service from usage caps isn't a blatant violation of net neutrality. After all, Verizon's now giving its own service a leg up in the streaming video market, while still penalizing competing services like Netflix. While the company wouldn't respond to my request to comment, the company is shoveling a vague, non-answer to several news outlets including ReCode.

quote: "Go90 has decided to take advantage of Verizon’s FreeBee Data 360 service, which allows them to pay for customer’s data usage associated with watching videos on the Go90 app,” a Verizon representative told Re/code. “FreeBee Data 360 is an open, non-exclusive service available to other content providers on a non-discriminatory basis. Any interested content provider can use FreeBee Data 360 to expand their audiences by giving consumers the opportunity to enjoy their content without incurring data charges." Except the fact that Go90 is "open and non-exclusive" is irrelevant. Verizon's using data caps as a way to give its own service a distinct leg up in the marketplace. It's the perfect example of why many believe the FCC should have followed Chile, Slovenia, Japan, The Netherlands and The statement is worded to pretend that Verizon doesn't own Go90 (Go90 omits the Verizon name to try and pander to Millennials), implying that the two companies are simply engaged in a normal business relationship:Except the fact that Go90 is "open and non-exclusive" is irrelevant. Verizon's using data caps as a way to give its own service a distinct leg up in the marketplace. It's the perfect example of why many believe the FCC should have followed Chile, Slovenia, Japan, The Netherlands and now India in crafting net neutrality rules that clearly prohibit such behavior. So far the FCC remains mute on the subject, trapped between a looming election that could gut the current FCC leadership, and a court case that could dismantle the rules entirely or partially. "Wheeler may not want to start an investigation when he only has a limited time left in office and a future FCC might drop the matter," Public Knowledge lawyer Harold Feld tells me in an e-mail. "Instead, Wheeler may push for some kind of Policy Statement or Enforcement Guidance. Something that would provide notice industry wide about what the FCC would consider "red lines" on data caps." But if the industry knows the rules may be demolished by an election or industry lawsuit victory, they could ignore such guidance without immediate penalty. That would certainly explain why both Verizon But if the industry knows the rules may be demolished by an election or industry lawsuit victory, they could ignore such guidance without immediate penalty. That would certainly explain why both Verizon and Comcast are being cocky when it comes to using usage caps to give their own services a competitive advantage. Either ISPs don't think the FCC has the authority or motivation to do anything about it -- or they've received some indication from the FCC it doesn't intend to crack down on zero rating whatsoever.







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camper

just visiting this planet

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join:2010-03-21

Bethel, CT 9 recommendations camper Premium Member Data caps and usage caps are, at their very core, uncompetitive

No matter how much the comm companies try to sidestep or otherwise downplay the anti-competitive nature of the caps, they are anti-competitive.



No matter how much lipstick is put on the pig, it still won't fly.