The Federal Communications Commission, in the wake of adopting net neutrality rules, wants to better understand services that allow customers to stream certain types of content without detracting from data buckets.
One of the tenants of net neutrality is certain types of traffic do not receive preference over others. One way to think of that is if a service provider throttles a data connection when a customer who doesn’t pay for a bundle that includes TV accesses over-the-top video content from content providers like Hulu or Netflix.
Then there’s the inverse, perhaps best exemplified by the T-Mobile US Binge On promotion, which allows T-Mobile US customers to stream as much video as they want from select platforms without having the data transmission count against their monthly plan.
On Dec. 16, the FCC sent letters to T-Mobile US, AT&T and Comcast asking for more information about how the service providers approach free streaming.
In a press conference, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said, “Let me be real clear. These were ‘let’s get informed letters,'” as in not related to any investigation or enforcement effort.
The Comcast letter, similar to the other two, inquires about Stream TV, a Comcast service that’s an add-on to Xfinity Internet. Stream TV use isn’t counted towards monthly data usage.
“We understand Stream TV is currently being piloted in Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan and New Hampshire, and that Comcast plans to extend the service throughout Comcast’s entire footprint in 2016,” the FCC letter states. “As you may be aware, concerns about the manner in which Comcast offers this service have been expressed. For example, the CEO of Sling TV has suggested Comcast data usage allowances and the inapplicability of those usage allowances to the Stream TV raises level playing field concerns. Others have suggested that Stream TV is a new way to deliver services that get around the FCC’s net neutrality guidelines. … We want to ensure that we have all the facts to understand how this service relates to the commission’s goal of maintaining a free and open Internet while incentivizing innovation and investment from all sources.”
With that, FCC officials give Comcast – and T-Mobile US and AT&T – until Jan. 15 to respond by providing “available relevant technical and business personnel for discussions about the service with FCC staff.”
