AT&T wants to choose which online video services count against data caps

AT&T doesn't want any rules preventing it from choosing which online video services count against its customers' data caps. AT&T's "Sponsored Data" program already charges businesses, often in the ad industry, for the right to deliver services without counting against customers' mobile data caps. AT&T could potentially charge online video streaming services for exemptions from the caps imposed on AT&T home broadband subscribers as well or exempt its own online services from caps. Though AT&T doesn't appear to have done this yet, the company asked the Federal Communications Commission to make sure it's allowed to do so.

AT&T's request came after a group of companies and consumer advocacy organizations asked the Federal Communications Commission to prevent AT&T from granting data cap exemptions. "To the extent that AT&T uses usage-based tracking, metering, or billing on its Broadband Internet Access Service, it shall not exempt any video service offered over broadband from such tracking, metering, or billing," said a May 12 filing by Cogent, Dish, Free Press, New America's Open Technology Institute, and Public Knowledge. The groups proposed that the FCC add that text as a condition on AT&T's proposed acquisition of satellite TV provider DirecTV. Separately, Netflix has argued that AT&T could use data caps and usage-based pricing methods to "advantage its own services" and "slow the development" of online video providers that compete against traditional pay-TV.