Remember how the FCC requested a meeting with T-Mobile to discuss Binge On? Well the meeting has officially happened, and today the FCC talked a bit about it.
FCC spokesperson Kim Hart has told Ars Technica that it had “productive discussions” with AT&T, Comcast, and T-Mobile regarding trends in the market. Hart wouldn’t offer any specifics about the individual meetings, but did say that the meetings weren’t meant to be investigations or anything that would lead to actions being taken against the companies:
“This is not an enforcement action or investigation, as the Chairman [Tom Wheeler] has made clear. Direct dialogue with companies is an important way in which the Commission can watch and learn, and consistent with our approach in the Open Internet Order.”
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has previously voiced his support of Binge On, saying that it’s “highly innovative and highly competitive.” Binge On has been the target of a lot of criticisms lately, though, including from YouTube and the EFF as well as folks that feel that Binge On violates net neutrality. Because of these criticisms and the fact that we’re seeing a few zero-rating programs in use lately, like Binge On and AT&T’s Sponsored Data program, the FCC likely wanted to meet with T-Mo learn more about exactly how Binge On works. T-Mobile hasn’t given a statement about its meeting with the FCC or what was said.
Source: Ars Technica