In what could be the FCC's first formal network neutrality
complaint since its new rules became effective a year ago, Free Press, Public
Knowledge and the New American Foundation said Tuesday they had informed
AT&T they planned to lodge a complaint against the company in the next
several weeks.
The complaint won't be lodged for at least 10 days,
since that is the notice the FCC requires companies be given for such
complaints, the group pointed out.
They argue that AT&T is blocking the video-conferencing
mobile application FaceTime in violation of the FCC's Open Internet Rules.
While the FCC did not apply most of its net neutrality rules to wireless, it
did apply a no-blocking requirement.
"Under the Open Internet rules the FCC passed in 2010,
AT&T cannot block apps that compete with the company's traditional
voice-calling service," say the groups.
"AT&T's decision to block FaceTime unless a customer
pays for voice and text minutes she doesn't need is a clear violation of the
FCC's Open Internet rules," said Free Press Policy Director Matt Wood in a
statement. "It's particularly outrageous that AT&T is requiring this
for iPad users, given that this device isn't even capable of making voice
calls. AT&T's actions are incredibly harmful to all of its customers, including
the deaf, immigrant families and others with relatives overseas, who depend on
mobile video apps to communicate with friends and family."
As recently as May, FCC chairman Julius Genachowski had told
the Senate that the FCC had not received any complaints in the six months since
the Open Internet order went into effect. The rules are currently being
challenged in court by Verizon and MetroPCS.
An AT&T spokesperson was not immediately available for
comment, but
in a blog posting last month, AT&T said that they are wrong. "In
another knee jerk reaction, some groups have rushed to judgment and claimed
that AT&T's plans will violate the FCC's net neutrality rules," AT&T said.
"Providers of mobile broadband Internet access service are subject to two net
neutrality requirements: 1) a transparency requirement pursuant to which they
must disclose accurate information regarding the network management practices,
performance, and commercial terms of their broadband Internet access services;
and 2) a no-blocking requirement under which they are prohibited, subject to reasonable
network management, from blocking applications that compete with the provider's
voice or video telephony services. AT&T's plans for FaceTime will not
violate either requirement."
