When a “Zero Rating” is More Than Zero

Decisions about socalled amp8220zero ratedamp8221 data services have got to be the first issueamp160 What are theyamp160 They are data services that donamp8217t count against your data usageamp160 Yepamp160 In effect free deliveryamp160 That zerorated service though is usually a promotional one or one owned by the distributoramp160 Sort of prima facie evidence that is in violation of net neutrality rules amp8230 or now notAccording to The Verge TMobile ATampampT Verizon and Comcast each received an identical letter saying in part todayFeb 3 the longrunning zero rated data services inquiries have been dropped amp8220Through this letter I am notifying your company that the Bureau has closed this inquiry Any conclusions preliminary or otherwise expressed during the course of the inquiry will have no legal or other meaning or effect going forwardamp8221amp8220Today the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau is closing its investigation into wireless carriers39 freedata offeringsamp8221 FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement amp8220These freedata plans have proven to be popular among consumers particularly lowincome Americans and have enhanced competition in the wireless marketplace Going forward the Federal Communications Commission will not focus on denying Americans free data Instead we will concentrate on expanding broadband deployment and encouraging innovative service offeringsamp8221In other words amp8220net neutralityamp8221 may well be a thing of the past And free data albeit at turtlelike speeds will remain on the menuMeanwhile Morning Tech reported that in Congress amp8220Rep Jared Huffman DCalif sponsored legislation that would establish an office of rural broadband initiatives in the Agriculture Department HR 800 Rep Virginia Foxx RNC released a measure that would update policy around the donotcall registry so numbers on that list won39t receive politically oriented recorded messages HR 740 And Rep Doug Lamborn RColo reintroduced two bills aimed at cutting funding for public radio HR 726 and 727amp8221Thatamp8217s not all eitherKudos to Chairman Pai for another action testing the prevoting release of FCC proposals amp8230 a rather radical change from previous rulesamp160 Pai actually thinks the public and Commissioners should have a threeweek or so chance to read and review proposed regulationsRandom NotesI didnamp8217t know when this was written who won Super Bowl LI but I do know who lost or almost lost the ability to watch itamp160 As of this writing subscribers in seven states were at risk of losing the Super Bowl signalamp160 Thatamp8217s thanks to a peculiar law that pretty much dictates the winners and losers in negotiations between a cable TV system and a broadcasteramp160 Called amp8220retransmission consentamp8221 it has a headsIwin tailsyoulose structureamp160 A station can demand carriage it is called mustcarry or the station can demand a monthly persubscriber fee enabling carriageamp160 Since most consumers demand their local broadcast stations cable telco satellite or whatever systems pretty much have to carry said stations no matter how ridiculous the fee Any system not carrying a local broadcast station is sure to get lambasted for amp8220cheatingamp8221 consumers never mind that the cost of those stations eventually lands in consumersamp8217 laps For more details check out americantelevisionallianceorgClick the social buttons above or below to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this article are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated bloggersamp160

SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE MEDIAVILLAGE CONTENT | BECOME A THOUGHT LEADERSHIP CONTRIBUTOR

When a “Zero Rating” is More Than Zero

Author

Publish date

Channel

Paul S. Maxwell

SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE MEDIAVILLAGE CONTENT | BECOME A THOUGHT LEADERSHIP CONTRIBUTOR

When a “Zero Rating” is More Than Zero

Enjoying This Commentary? There's More to Love

Paul S. Maxwell

Cookies