AT&T (Photo : Reuters)
The Federal Communications and Commission sets a new standard for net neutrality rules. Sprint stopped data throttling while AT&T is facing a $100 million penalty for failing to adequately notifying its customers that their speeds would be throttled after they crossed a certain data threshold.
AT&T stopped unlimited data in 2011 and grandfathered them. They then launched new 5 gigabytes data plan in 2012. The plan throttles once you reached its cap and yet AT&T just recently started notification by sending a text message to its customers on when and how throttling started causing the Federal Communications and Commissions to penalize them, Cnet reported.
Meanwhile, Sprint stopped capping on its unlimited data plan to avoid such complaints in the future. They may also raise the price of their unlimited data plan in the latter part of the year, Cnet reported.
Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure said, "For the next few months, unlimited continues, we might increase prices towards the latter part of the year."
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said that consumers deserve to get what they pay for. All broadband providers must be transparent and upfront about the services they provide. He also added that the FCC will not stand by idly while consumers are deceived by misleading marketing materials and insufficient disclosure, Ksl reported.
T-Mobile was issued the same notice from FCC, which improved the company's transparency on their customers. Verizon also stopped the same unlimited capping.
Unlimited data means unlimited, according to FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief Travis LeBlanc. He also added that the commission is committed holding accountable to those providers who fail to be transparent about data limits.
