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T-Mobile's BingeOn or Verizon's Go90 are problematic because they prioritize content. Say you're a new video streaming startup. You can't compete against Netfli

T-Mobile's BingeOn or Verizon's Go90 are problematic because they prioritize content. Say you're a new video streaming startup. You can't compete against Netflix with T-Mobile users because Netflix's traffic gets priority. You can't get that priority because you're not a big enough fish to negotiate your own fast lane. Fast lanes are bad for innovation in this way. They favor entrenched players, which then become more entrenched, and then become more favored, etc... The FCC's Open Internet Order explicitly bans this behavior, but it only applies to wired connections. They did not issue any ruling on wireless internet, so several wireless providers offer these unmetered fast lanes (i.e. stream content from certain providers without it counting against your bandwidth limit). It's a short term win for customers, but they lose in the long run.

dragonwriter 10y ago
> They're problematic because they are fast lanes that prioritize content. Zero-rating services aren't traffic prioritization, and the Open Internet Order forbids paid prioritization anyway. What they are is paid deals where data from one service isn't counted against data caps, which is a different form of favoritism. > You can't compete against Netflix with T-Mobile users because Netflix's traffic gets priority. No, you can't compete against Netflix with T-Mobile users (without making a similar deal with T-Mobile) because your data-intensive service will be charged against a limited usage quota while Netflix's won't.
- charlesz 10y ago
  Anyone can apply for T-Mobile's Music Freedom (zero-rated music streaming) and BingeOn (zero-rated video streaming) programs assuming you're providing legal content. Edit: It's also worth noting that participation in the programs is free both for the provider and end user.
  - ascagnel_ 10y ago
    Your edit is the most important piece, and lets T-Mobile spin it as a network optimization program instead of paid prioritization, regardless of how it may actually work.

dragonwriter 10y ago

> They're problematic because they are fast lanes that prioritize content. Zero-rating services aren't traffic prioritization, and the Open Internet Order forbids paid prioritization anyway. What they are is paid deals where data from one service isn't counted against data caps, which is a different form of favoritism. > You can't compete against Netflix with T-Mobile users because Netflix's traffic gets priority. No, you can't compete against Netflix with T-Mobile users (without making a similar deal with T-Mobile) because your data-intensive service will be charged against a limited usage quota while Netflix's won't.

charlesz 10y ago
Anyone can apply for T-Mobile's Music Freedom (zero-rated music streaming) and BingeOn (zero-rated video streaming) programs assuming you're providing legal content. Edit: It's also worth noting that participation in the programs is free both for the provider and end user.
- ascagnel_ 10y ago
  Your edit is the most important piece, and lets T-Mobile spin it as a network optimization program instead of paid prioritization, regardless of how it may actually work.