EFF: T-Mobile's Claim It's 'Optimizing' Video Is Total Bunk The EFF today unveiled its analysis of T-Mobile's new "Binge On" zero rating effort, and the organization isn't particularly impressed. As noted previously, Binge On is enabled by default and exempts streaming video services from user usage caps, but throttles that content back to 480p. T-Mobile has taken heat from net neutrality advocates (and YouTube) for meddling with Internet content and setting a bad precedent, even if customers may be excited by the lure of "free stuff."

throttling all Internet video by default unless users specifically opt out.But the report offers more specifics than we'd seen previously, noting that all HTML5 video streams are throttled back to 1.5 Mbps, even if the device and connection are technically capable of quite a bit more: quote: T-Mobile throttles all HTML5 video streams to around 1.5Mps, even when the phone is capable of downloading at higher speeds, and regardless of whether or not the video provider enrolled in Binge On. This is the case whether the video is being streamed or being downloaded—which means that T-Mobile is artificially reducing the download speeds of customers with Binge On enabled, even if they’re downloading the video to watch later. Last week we noted that quote: Our last finding is that T-Mobile’s video “optimization” doesn’t actually alter or enhance the video stream for delivery to a mobile device over a mobile network in any way. This means T-Mobile’s “optimization” consists entirely of throttling the video stream’s throughput down to 1.5Mbps. If the video is more than 480p and the server sending the video doesn’t have a way to reduce or adapt the bitrate of the video as it’s being streamed, the result is stuttering and uneven streaming—exactly the opposite of the experience T-Mobile claims their “optimization” will have . T-Mobile of course would prefer the media call what they're doing "optimization" because the FCC's net neutrality rules specifically prohibit throttling specific classes of content. Whether the FCC can be bothered to actually enforce these rules remains to be seen. But the EFF recommends that T-Mobile start by doing a few simple things, including making the service opt in instead of opt out, and by not throttling services that don't agree to participate (which is what Google/YouTube In its full analysis of what T-Mobile is doing technically , the EFF reiterates that T-Mobile is nowunless users specifically opt out.But the report offers more specifics than we'd seen previously, noting that all HTML5 video streams are throttled back to 1.5 Mbps, even if the device and connection are technically capable of quite a bit more:Last week we noted that T-Mobile was scolding media outlets (us included) for calling what they're doing "throttling" instead of "optimization," but the EFF report finds there's nothing really optimized about what T-mobile's up to:T-Mobile of course would prefer the media call what they're doing "optimization" because the FCC's net neutrality rules specifically prohibit throttling specific classes of content. Whether the FCC can be bothered to actually enforce these rules remains to be seen. But the EFF recommends that T-Mobile start by doing a few simple things, including making the service, and by not throttling services that don't agree to participate (which is what Google/YouTube complained about last week).







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Most recommended from 55 comments

Quattrohead

Premium Member

join:2005-02-09 10 recommendations Quattrohead Premium Member Sounds like throttling to me And I am a big fan of T-Mobile. However, why the hell would anyone watch tv on a 5" screen when you can watch on a screen the size of your living room wall these days ??? mikesco8

join:2006-02-17

Southwick, MA 5 recommendations mikesco8 Member T-mobile could have avoided all of the controversy if they simply did this.. Offered the option to users to turn on a software switch to limit their data to 1.5mbps in exchange for it not counting against their data cap at any point it is enabled. They then could of offered a way for any video provider to voluntarily optimize their service when accessed with that limited stream.

cb14

join:2013-02-04

Miami Beach, FL ·Localphone

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5 recommendations cb14 Member crooked = crooked

For anyone with the brain of a worm it was clear from the very beginning, that the whole "binge on" was nothing more than a massive violation of net neutrality.

But from the very start, upon every negative comment about this monstrosity I have been getting negative comments and hostility from the " free" freaks. What you see is a massive propaganda machine, where everyone is winding like a snake creating pseudo arguments why this monstrosity somehow would not be a monstrosity or even something positive.

Americans are going to sell their souls for free Netflix, regardless of consequences.

I am not blaming that much TMUS, because they are simply using the giant loop holes in FCC's mushy rules, rather the masses who run like cattle behind this foolishness without wanting to admit what is going on.

Does this sound like a rant? It is one.

So, shills, do not brake your fingers by hitting the "down" button.

As a customer of T-Mobile since 2007 I am increasingly upset about their shenanigans. This is no "uncarrier" behavior, this is very much Verizon/ATT/Comcast behavior.For anyone with the brain of a worm it was clear from the very beginning, that the whole "binge on" was nothing more than a massive violation of net neutrality.But from the very start, upon every negative comment about this monstrosity I have been getting negative comments and hostility from the " free" freaks. What you see is a massive propaganda machine, where everyone is winding like a snake creating pseudo arguments why this monstrosity somehow would not be a monstrosity or even something positive.Americans are going to sell their souls for free Netflix, regardless of consequences.I am not blaming that much TMUS, because they are simply using the giant loop holes in FCC's mushy rules, rather the masses who run like cattle behind this foolishness without wanting to admit what is going on.Does this sound like a rant? It is one.So, shills, do not brake your fingers by hitting the "down" button.

graycorgi

Premium Member

join:2004-02-23 4 recommendations graycorgi Premium Member T-Mobile koolaid The same people in the comments trying to defend this behavior would be frothing at the mouth in rage if AT&T/Verizon/Sprint did the same thing. The "Uncarrier" thing really was and still is a successful PR stunt.