What a deal between Google and T-Mobile says about the future of Internet access

Google's having a change of heart over Binge On, a popular but controversial mobile video program from T-Mobile.

This feeds into a larger debate about whether it's appropriate for companies to set up these kinds of agreements in the first place. Some critics argue that exempting specific services from data caps — particularly if there's money changing hands — can distort the marketplace to favor big incumbents and make it harder for new competitors to gain a foothold. Binge On doesn't involve any corporate transactions; companies that want to participate just have to make sure their technology plays nice with T-Mobile's network and terms. But it and other, similar programs from the likes of Comcast, Verizon and AT&T have all attracted attention from regulators, who have held meetings with those companies in recent months. These have mostly been fact-finding talks, according to people present in the meetings, and they do not amount to an investigation or a probe. But they highlight the complexity of trying to oversee a sprawling and shifting entertainment ecosystem.