AT&T "Vigorously Disputes" FCC Fine
AT&T sends a response to the FCC regarding a $100 million dollar fine for throttling Unlimited Data users on their network. FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief Travis LeBlanc made clear earlier today that "the Commission is committed to holding accountable those broadband providers who fail to be fully transparent about data limits." AT&T has responded with a statement which suggests they will fight back against the FCC in this matter "vigorously", going on to say that they've gone above and beyond the FCC's requirements in this matter, informing consumers of their data speed limits when they have Unlimited Data allowances more than the FCC required.
According to the document listed today by the FCC, one of many ways in which AT&T was in "violation of the Open Internet Transparency Rule was the following. "The imposition of set data thresholds and speed reductions is antithetical to the term 'unlimited.'"
"AT&T was aware," says FCC the document, "that its continued use of the word unlimited to describe its data plans was likely to mislead consumers, as evidenced by the focus group studies conducted by AT&T around the time the Company implemented its MBR policy.
AT&T disagrees with the FCC's assertions. They've sent the following statement this afternoon.
"We will vigorously dispute the FCC's assertions," said an AT&T spokesperson in a statement."The FCC has specifically identified this practice as a legitimate and reasonable way to manage network resources for the benefit of all customers, and has known for years that all of the major carriers use it. We have been fully transparent with our customers, providing notice in multiple ways and going well beyond the FCC's disclosure requirements."
AT&T also made clear this afternoon that they sent this document to the FCC earlier this year regarding this matter.
The above – and the files included in the document therein, are in response to "Preserving the Open Internet, GN Docket No. 09-191; Broadband Industry Practices, WC Docket No. 07-52; A National Broadband Plan for Our Future, GN Docket No. 09-51; Protecting and Promoting the Open Internet, GN Docket No. 14-28" from the FCC.
Next we'll see if AT&T takes this matter to court, settling, or simply pays the fine outright.