The phone companies have a mantra when it comes to net neutrality. They insist they will never “block, impair or degrade” any user’s Internet access. Maybe that’s true for their wireline divisions, but it’s not necessarily clear that this rule applies to their wireless companies.
The Wall Street Journal’s Amol Sharma and Dionne Searcey have this delicious (and a bit distorted) piece about how Verizon Wireless (owned in part by Verizon) and Cingular (owned by BellSouth and AT&T) are cutting off users’ Internet activity for their broadband wireless services if those users take up too much bandwidth. The piece argues that bandwidth limitations in wireless telco contracts put off-limits such popular activities as “Internet calling, video streaming and using routers that let multiple users share a single Internet connection.”
Verizon Wireless has sent service-cancellation notices to customers it says are using excessive network capacity. Sprint and Cingular Wireless, meanwhile, have moved to charge people for the amount of data bits they wirelessly transfer to their computers each month. “They market it in such a way that you would think it’s Internet-on-the-go, then they start piling on restrictions,” says Bill Roland, an information-technology administrator in Ocala, Fla., who uses a Sprint high-speed connection. “What they want you to do is just basically surf the Internet and nothing else.”
To be fair, Verizon Wireless claims that it has sent fewer than 100 letter threatening to cut-off users since it first launched its EV-DO service in 2004. And Verizon Wireless’ CTO claims those letters only go to users that use more than 1,000 times the typical bandwidth. Moreover, the wireless telcos offer higher-priced “unlimited” download packages, which is fine.
After all, if a user is a bandwidth hog, higher prices should apply. But VoIP doesn’t really take a bandwidth toll, and I’d be interested to know if any of the wireless broadband contracts prohibit that?
Cynthia Brumfield at 3:23 PM|Comments(2)
unfortunately, its stated that we can't use VOIP over verizon! please don't tell me its true for cingular and sprint?
Subject to VZAccess Acceptable Use Policy, available on www.verizonwireless.com. NationalAccess and BroadbandAccess data sessions may be used with wireless devices for the following purposes: (i) Internet browsing; (ii) email; and (iii) intranet access (including access to corporate intranets, email and individual productivity applications like customer relationship management, sales force and field service automation). Unlimited NationalAccess/BroadbandAccess services cannot be used (1) for uploading, downloading or streaming of movies, music or games, (2) with server devices or with host computer applications, including, but not limited to, Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, Voice over IP (VoIP), automated machine-to-machine connections, or peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, or (3) as a substitute or backup for private lines or dedicated data connections. NationalAccess/BroadbandAccess is for individual use only and is not for resale. We reserve right to limit throughput or amount of data transferred, deny or terminate service, without notice, to anyone we believe is using NationalAccess or BroadbandAccess in any manner prohibited above or whose usage adversely impacts our network or service levels. Verizon Wireless reserves the right to protect its network from harm, which may impact legitimate data flows. We also reserve the right to terminate service upon expiration of Customer Agreement term.
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Posted by: REDEYEJEDI at May 24, 2006 10:58 PM
Don't forget Verizon Wireless's new tag line: "It's the Network". Maybe it should be more along the lines of: "Its our Network; and if you don't use it the way we tell you to use it then get off the Network"
Posted by: Tom at May 11, 2006 4:21 PM
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