Mikey Campbell
In response to U.S. Federal Communications Commission chief Tom Wheeler's concerns over Verizon's plan to throttle LTE data speeds for high-use customers, the nation's No. 1 carrier called the practice fair and said it is not alone in using such tactics.
In a note to the FCC, a copy of which was obtained by The Verge, Verizon's SVP of Federal Regulatory Affairs Kathleen Grillo said the carrier's "network optimization" initiative affects a small number of customers and only "under very limited circumstances."
When Verizon's network is particularly congested in a specific area, the cellular provider intends to limit 4G LTE speeds for customers with grandfathered-in unlimited data accounts who "have an out-sized effect on the network," a practice better known as "data throttling."
"This practice has been widely accepted with little or no controversy," Grillo writes. Further, Verizon claims its policy is better for consumers than similar plans currently employed by T-Mobile, which allows the Uncarrier to throttle "regardless of whether customers are at a location experiencing congestion."
Under the terms, slated to take effect in October, power users may see slower than normal data speeds when performing high bandwidth operations like streaming high-definition video or playing real-time games.
"Our practice is a measured and fair step to ensure that this small group of customers do not disadvantage all others in the sharing of network resources during times of high demand," Grillo says.
Last week, FCC Chairman Wheeler wrote to Verizon CEO Daniel Mead, voicing concern over the carrier's forthcoming rule change.
"'Reasonable network management' concerns the technical management of your network; it is not a loophole designed to enhance your revenue streams," Wheeler wrote.
According to Re/code, Mead met with press in New York on Monday to clarify the issue, saying the company was surprised by Wheeler's letter because Verizon employed the same tactic to rein in rampant 3G data use in 2011.
"I don't think the FCC really understood what we were doing," Mead said.
Charles Martin
Malcolm Owen
Andrew O'Hara
William Gallagher
58 Comments
The act itself is not fair, therefore no stipulations as to the throttling can be fair.
[quote name="Tallest Skil" url="/t/181686/verizon-responds-to-fcc-concerns-over-data-throttling-calls-method-measured-and-fair#post_2573754"]The act itself is not fair, therefore no stipulations as to the throttling can be fair. [/quote] Actually it makes all the sense in the world. We don't let hogs compromise our transportation highways so why would we allow it on an electronic highway? Beyond all of that the carriers really should be forced to a pay by bit system so that these heavy users have some incentive to curtail usage. Think about it, Bell's telephone system work for decades paying by the minute. It made sense back then because paying for time on the system encourages people to moderate usage thus keeping the network from becoming saturated. Structuring costs on a data network that values the data transmitted would do the same thing. Paying by the bit would be far more fair then what we have now.
Yep, people sure are prevented from driving more than others¡
WHY SHOULD ANYONE BE FORCED TO USE LESS DATA AT ALL?! HOW IS THIS AN ACCEPTABLE ANSWER?! People want more of your content? You lay more cable. Problem solved.
People want more of your content? You lay more cable. Problem solved.
It's not the big part with the cables that's the problem. It's that last bit from the tower to the cell phone — no cable!
If ur paying for unlimited data then u should b able to use as much as u want