An updated report from Stanford Law School’s Center for Internet and Society finds that T-Mobile’s “Binge On” service violates net neutrality principles. “Binge On” is a service provided by T-Mobile that allows its users to have access to unlimited video streaming with no extra charges to their existing plan. The unlimited video streaming service, however, does not apply to all video providers.
According to the report, only 42 video providers are listed. The writers of the report claim that because it does not include all video providers that it violates net neutrality principles. Also alleged is T-Mobile behavior as a “gatekeeper” of the Internet service it provides to its users a service by favoring these 42 video providers. According to key net neutrality standards ISPs should not favor providers or content. T-Mobile disagrees with accusations.
CNET reports that Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has claimed that T-Mobile has slowed down data rates for users not subscribed to the Binge On service. EFF also claims that video streaming from video providers that did not sign on with T-Mobile’s service has also been slowed down. Google’s YouTube is an example of a video provider that has not signed on. YouTube has also complained about slower T-Mobile data rates.
critics claim that despite the benefits of Binge On to the consumer, it violates key net neutrality principles because all services on the Internet are to be treated equally…
According to CNET critics claim that despite the benefits of Binge On to the consumer, it violates key net neutrality principles because all services on the Internet are to be treated equally as mandated by the FCC. Furthermore, critics state that this type of service puts startups at a greater disadvantage if their services are not given equal data rates.
EFF took to twitter to ask T-Mobile CEO John Legere if the service altered the video stream or simply limited its bandwidth. You watch Legere’s reply below:
.@EFF pic.twitter.com/pv6V4oOJwS
— John Legere (@JohnLegere) January 7, 2016
