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Is net neutrality even law anymore? T-Mobile has had Binge on for a long time, which zero-rates certain video streaming services. And part of that was even unde

Is net neutrality even law anymore? T-Mobile has had Binge on for a long time, which zero-rates certain video streaming services. And part of that was even under the old net neutrality laws.

technothrasher 3y ago
No, but the now Democratic majority at the FCC is currently actively trying to bring it back.
toast0 3y ago
Binge On doesn't fall under strict net neutrality, but they are at least publicly open to all lawful and licensed content audio/video providers, and the technical requirements are not very high. I don't know what the actual onboarding process is like, but they've got a lot of providers signed up...
- hot_gril 3y ago
  https://www.t-mobile.com/tv-streaming/binge-on/apps-list.html https://www.t-mobile.com/tv-streaming/binge-on/apps-list.htm... doesn't list all that many providers if we're talking about all video streaming services worldwide. I notice a large one under the gaming category missing, Twitch.
  - toast0 3y ago
    I think they've got to be licensed for US customers, or T-Mobile USA isn't going to include them. Twitch does seem to be a notable missing provider; Amazon video is on the program though, so maybe there's some technical or product thing on Twitch's side.
    - hot_gril 3y ago
      Even US-only. Broadcast networks category is especially slim. They've anticipated this kind of scrutiny and claim no money is exchanged, but idk. Someone should try adding a random obscure service.
bombcar 3y ago
Some states implemented their own versions of net neutrality.
- hot_gril 3y ago
  Gotta disable in-flight messaging while flying over certain states ;)
burkaman 3y ago
Net neutrality is the law in California, but T-Mobile says Binge On is ok because any video streaming service can participate for free. It sounds reasonable to me and apparently the California regulators are fine with it.
- hot_gril 3y ago
  I'm fine with it, but that also clearly violates net neutrality, so it doesn't seem to be the law here.
  - burkaman 3y ago
    Here's the California law: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Internet_Consumer_Protection_and_Net_Neutrality_Act_of_2018 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Internet_Consumer_P.... T-Mobile Binge On is zero-rating. T-Mobile's claim is that they aren't getting paid for it, and that any video provider can participate, so they aren't only zero-rating "some content in a category". It sounds like that second part isn't true, so they are probably violating the law but nobody is being harmed so nobody has sued. I agree that allowing any form of zero-rating is not full net neutrality because it isn't treating all packets the same, but I don't think it's fair to say that therefore there is no net neutrality in California. It's a very strong and effective law and gets like 95% of the way to full "dumb pipe" net neutrality.

Is net neutrality even law anymore? T-Mobile has had Binge on for a long time, which zero-rates certain video streaming services. And part of that was even under the old net neutrality laws.

technothrasher 3y ago

No, but the now Democratic majority at the FCC is currently actively trying to bring it back.

toast0 3y ago

Binge On doesn't fall under strict net neutrality, but they are at least publicly open to all lawful and licensed content audio/video providers, and the technical requirements are not very high. I don't know what the actual onboarding process is like, but they've got a lot of providers signed up...

hot_gril 3y ago
https://www.t-mobile.com/tv-streaming/binge-on/apps-list.html https://www.t-mobile.com/tv-streaming/binge-on/apps-list.htm... doesn't list all that many providers if we're talking about all video streaming services worldwide. I notice a large one under the gaming category missing, Twitch.
- toast0 3y ago
  I think they've got to be licensed for US customers, or T-Mobile USA isn't going to include them. Twitch does seem to be a notable missing provider; Amazon video is on the program though, so maybe there's some technical or product thing on Twitch's side.
  - hot_gril 3y ago
    Even US-only. Broadcast networks category is especially slim. They've anticipated this kind of scrutiny and claim no money is exchanged, but idk. Someone should try adding a random obscure service.

bombcar 3y ago

Some states implemented their own versions of net neutrality.

hot_gril 3y ago
Gotta disable in-flight messaging while flying over certain states ;)

burkaman 3y ago

Net neutrality is the law in California, but T-Mobile says Binge On is ok because any video streaming service can participate for free. It sounds reasonable to me and apparently the California regulators are fine with it.

hot_gril 3y ago
I'm fine with it, but that also clearly violates net neutrality, so it doesn't seem to be the law here.
- burkaman 3y ago
  Here's the California law: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Internet_Consumer_Protection_and_Net_Neutrality_Act_of_2018 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Internet_Consumer_P.... T-Mobile Binge On is zero-rating. T-Mobile's claim is that they aren't getting paid for it, and that any video provider can participate, so they aren't only zero-rating "some content in a category". It sounds like that second part isn't true, so they are probably violating the law but nobody is being harmed so nobody has sued. I agree that allowing any form of zero-rating is not full net neutrality because it isn't treating all packets the same, but I don't think it's fair to say that therefore there is no net neutrality in California. It's a very strong and effective law and gets like 95% of the way to full "dumb pipe" net neutrality.