Verizon exempted its own video service from mobile data caps.
Verizon Wireless is conducting a test of the limits of net neutrality regulations of the FCC following its announcement to exempt its own video facility from caps on mobile data – whereas monitoring data provided by rivals like Netflix and YouTube against the caps.
The only method for organizations to send data to Verizon customers without counting against their data limits is to pay the telecom carrier – something no main competitor has opted to do. Whereas exemptions from data caps aren’t specifically declared illegal by the net neutrality regulations of the FCC, the commission is testing these arrangements to evaluate whether they must be stopped according to the so-called "general conduct standard” of the regulatory body.
The Commission is currently looking into the exemptions from data caps – also called zero-rating – implemented by T-Mobile USA, AT&T and Comcast. In January, Verizon announced its "Free Be Data 360" program in which providers of content can pay money to send zero-rating data to consumers.
Verizon is already pushing its new "Go90" streaming video facility, and on February 5, 2016, it added a benefit to the mobile application of Go90: free data. Go90 is streaming live sports along with other shows. The application is free of charge with advertisements, and has some content that is exclusive to subscribers of Verizon Wireless.
The use of zero-rating by the Californian telecom might raise more apprehensions than the use of zero-rating by T-Mobile, which is already exempting a large number of third-party video service providers from caps without charging them for the exemptions. (T-Mobile also throttles video, which makes comparison just a little more complex).
By exempting Go90 from data caps whereas enforcing caps on YouTube, Netflix and other video service providers, Verizon is capable of pushing consumers towards its own facility at the cost of competitors. If those competitors in the market want to avail the same advantages afforded by Go90, then the company would yet benefit from receiving money in return for being exempted from data limits.
Although FreeBee, a website, indicates that organizations paying for exemptions from data limits can sponsor just half a minute long streaming of mobile video, Verizon told arstechnica that video service providers are capable of paying for as much as they are interested in.
The telecom company has claimed that it is not providing any kind of special treatment to Go90. Although Netflix is a fan of the zero-rating of T-Mobile, the video service provider would not probably pay for availing exemptions from data caps.
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