"A Stanford Law School professor in a paper published January 29, concludes T-Mobile US’ Binge On streaming video service, which doesn’t count against a subscriber data allotment, “violates key net neutrality principles and harms user choice, innovation, competition and free speech online.”
Barbara van Schewick is a professor of law and Helen L. Crocker Faculty Scholar, as well as serving as director of Stanford Law School’s Center for Internet and Society. Here’s a link to the complete paper.
Binge On is what’s called a zero-rating service. T-Mobile US subscribers can use the service to stream low-resolution video from select streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon.com, HBO and others.
“The program is likely to violate the [Federal Communications Commission’s] general conduct rule,” van Schewick wrote. “Binge On undermines the core vision of net neutrality: Internet service providers that connect us to the Internet should not act as gatekeepers that pick winners and losers online by favoring some applications over others. By exempting Binge On video from using customers’ data plans, T-Mobile is favoring video from the providers it adds to Binge On over other video.”
Specifically, van Schewick details how, in her opinion, Binge On distorts competition, limits user choice, stifles free expression and harms innovation."
- Date Published:01/31/2016
- Original Publication:RCRWirelessNews