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AT&T to Face Net Neutrality Complaint Regarding FaceTime Over Cellular Limitation

Tuesday September 18, 2012 8:13 am PDT by Eric Slivka

Late last month, we noted that net neutrality organization Public Knowledge had accused AT&T of violating Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules in limiting use of the forthcoming FaceTime over Cellular feature in iOS 6 to customers on the carrier's new Mobile Share plans. AT&T responded to note that it was within its rights to block FaceTime over Cellular for customers on other plans because net neutrality regulations do not apply to apps that are preloaded on devices as seen with Apple's FaceTime app.

GigaOM now notes that Public Knowledge has banded together with Free Press and the New America Foundation’s Open Technology Institute to notify AT&T that they will indeed be filing a net neutrality complaint with the FCC over the issue.

“AT&T’s decision to block FaceTime unless a customer pays for voice and text minutes she doesn’t need is a clear violation of the FCC’s Open Internet rules,” said Free Press Policy Director Matt Wood. "It’s particularly outrageous that AT&T is requiring this for iPad users, given that this device isn’t even capable of making voice calls. AT&T's actions are incredibly harmful to all of its customers, including the deaf, immigrant families and others with relatives overseas, who depend on mobile video apps to communicate with friends and family."

The press release is a required 10-day advance notice of the intended action, with the group saying that the complaint will be filed "in the coming weeks".

Top Rated Comments

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Battlefield Fan

24 months ago

Die AT&T. DIE!!!

Rating: 70 Votes

Jsameds

24 months ago

Data is data.

Rating: 45 Votes

ouimetnick

24 months ago

Hope AT&T either changes their choice, or pays for it! Greed at it's finest!

Rating: 41 Votes

gmanist1000

24 months ago

Take them down.

Rating: 38 Votes

NachoGrande

24 months ago

I am happy with AT&T and never had a complaint, but that is a crappy move on their part. It's our data to do with it what we please.

Rating: 36 Votes

3N16MA

24 months ago

You whiners need to get over it. AT&T is a business and therefore it makes business decisions. When AT&T offered unlimited data, devices simply didn't use that much, they were slow, apps were slow, steaming movies and videos through cellular technology wasn't quite here yet, etc.

Now data consumption has gone through the roof and AT&T has to manage their costs. You are bunch of entitled babies that expect businesses to operate at a loss to give you the service you think you deserve. You are lucky they didn't strip away your unlimited data already. Businesses are NOT in business for the good of humanity. They are here to make a profit. They make a profit by providing goods or services at a price where we can FREELY choose to trade our hard earned dollars for that service. If you don't like the service they provide, STOP freely CHOOSING to trade your dollars for their service. It's as simple as that.

Stop whining about whiners.

Rating: 15 Votes

rei101

24 months ago

Apple could buy AT&T :D

Rating: 12 Votes

0815

24 months ago

I hope AT&T looses this one ... sick of AT&T screwing its customers by limiting the features (remember how long it took AT&T to support MMS, while the rest of the world was already enjoying it on the iPhone?)

I am just afraid that if they are forced to allow it, that they will only allow it if I give up my unlimited data plan and switch to one of the stupid shared plans.

Rating: 12 Votes

JayLenochiniMac

24 months ago

Let's be realistic here. It's either that or we lose our grandfathered unlimited data and be forced to switch to the mobile share plan a la Verizon.

Can't eat our cake and have it too.

Rating: 12 Votes

appleguy123

24 months ago

If they lose, they'll probably pass the cost onto us, like always. AT&T continues to pass these intolerable acts, and that didn't work out too well for the British.

I hope to see their downfall in my lifetime. But they're still the only company that is decent in my area.

Rating: 10 Votes

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