Why Free Can Be a Problem on the Internet

[Commentary] T-Mobile will let customers watch as many movies as they wanted on services like Netflix and HBO as well as all other kinds of video, without having it count against their monthly data plans. Given the growing popularity of streaming video, its plan, called Binge On, should appeal to many consumers. But there are real concerns about whether such promotions could give telecommunications companies the ability to influence what services people use on the Internet, benefiting some businesses and hurting others. Binge On is certainly better than plans in which websites pay telecom companies to be included. But it is not yet clear whether these free plans will inappropriately distort how consumers use the Internet.