AT&T’s controversial decision to block access to FaceTime over their cellular network to holders of their new (and usually more expensive) shared data plans has caused a great deal of commotion, and we reported last month that they might even have to answer to the FCC over the questionable policy.
GigaOM now reports that Public Knowledge (one of the first and most vocal groups to speak out against AT&T’s decision) has now teamed up with Free Press and the New America Foundation’s Open Technology Institute, and will be filing a formal Net Neutrality complaint against AT&T as a result.
Free Press Policy Director Matt Wood offers the following quote:
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. 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.
AT&T previously responded that their move was not a Net Neutrality violation, and didn’t violate FCC rules (ie, “we can get away with it“), but the Free Press later called them out, stating that they “invented” an exemption that simply doesn’t exist in the FCC rules to attempt to justify their actions.
Of course, whether or not AT&T technically violated FCC rules is really beside the point – the bigger issue is their ongoing tendency to bully their customers, and repeatedly engage in blatantly anti-consumer actions that hurt their customers in the long run.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: AT&T is in the wrong here, and deserves whatever is coming to them. I hope the FCC pummels them into the ground over this – after all, they have had every opportunity to correct this, and have refused.
I believe in consumer rights. AT&T apparently does not. It’s high time consumers stand up for themselves, and join the call of arms against AT&T. Even if the FCC lets AT&T get away with this, consumers shouldn’t.