The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) wanted to know if some network providers are violating the Open Internet rules with its services so, on Dec. 17, the FCC sent letters to AT&T, Comcast and T-Mobile asking the companies to explain why its services allow unlimited streaming in its partner sites without being counted towards its subscribers' monthly data caps.
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said, however, that the move was merely an official request for an explanation and none of the companies that received the official letters from the FCC are in trouble unless they were found to be breaching the Net Neutrality rules.
"This is not an investigation, this is not an enforcement. This is to help us stay informed as to what the practices are as we said we would do," he stated during a press conference on Dec. 18.
The letters contained a request for a representative from the companies to be made available by Jan. 15, 2016 and have them officially explain the services in question. "We want to ensure that we have all the facts to understand how these services relate to the commission's goal," the FCC wrote in its letters and went on to remind the companies about the Net Neutrality rules.
The three companies went on to say that it will cooperate with FCC and provide the necessary information to shed light on the mater.
"We continue to be strong supporters of net neutrality and firmly believe in the principles of equal access to an open and free-flowing Internet... This program... is absolutely in line with net-neutrality rules," T-Mobile said of its program, "BingeOn."
"Our Stream TV service does not go over the public Internet... It is not a so-called 'zero-rated' service." Comcast spokeswoman Sena Fitzmaurice explained. She clarified, however, that Comcast would still take part in the discussion with FCC.
AT&T said it is still reviewing the letter.
