Verizon Tells Us Six Strikes Won't Apply to LTE

Though Company Mute on Other Plan Specifics

Verizon has confirmed to Broadband Reports that the company's wireless networks will not be covered by the upcoming "six strikes" anti-piracy initiative. I've been trying to get specifics out of companies concerning how exactly they'll enforce six strikes -- and the majority have chosen to remain mute about what will happen. It's rumored that we're just a few weeks from launch and most ISPs have yet to offer up a consumer FAQ so customers know what to expect with the system.

During a six strikes discussion panel last week, Verizon confirmed they'd be throttling repeat offenders , but I couldn't get the company to be specific about what speeds users will be throttled back to, or any other program specifics. That includes what happens after a user repeatedly gets warned and throttled (Verizon has stated they won't terminate user connections).

"Verizon has not detailed the mitigation process that may take place after the fourth warning," Verizon's Ed McFadden told Broadband Reports in an e-mail. "When we notify our customers about the alerts program, I will make sure that you see what we share with our customers. The alerts process is for wireline customers only, Verizon Wireless (or LTE) is not part of the alerts system."

That's a large chunk of Verizon's broadband services that won't be covered by the new arrangement, given Verizon now sells fixed residential LTE services, and is making plans to migrate a lot of the DSL customers they don't want to upgrade to LTE. Why no six strikes for wireless? File trading over LTE networks would come at a huge price premium given the low caps and $15 per gigabyte overages charged, acting as a deterrent all by itself. Verizon's trying to lure customers to LTE, so imposing tough new restrictions on the service might not be the best PR at the moment.

As for the rest of Verizon's fixed-line broadband customers, the company directed our attention to the alerts explanation page for the Center for Copyright Information, the group that will be managing the six strikes endeavor across ISPs. Some ISPs have finally starting sharing more detail than others -- Time Warner Cable has been willing to talk about their implementation of their version of the program, details of which I'll share later on today.