Consumer groups urge FCC to investigate Metro PCS for network neutrality violation

Public interest groups called for the Federal Communications Commission to investigate new data plans by Metro PCS that they say block certain Web sites on cell phones and violate network neutrality rules.

The action comes as carriers race to attract new high-speed mobile Internet customers, who will be confronted with an array of new charges and tiers for certain Internet services. Free Press, Media Access Project and the Center for Media Justice sent a letter to the agency, saying the wireless carrier's plans offer certain Web services for different tiers and could violate no-blocking rules implemented by the FCC last December. The FCC's Internet access rules prohibit wireless carriers from blocking Web sites. Public interest groups say Metro PCS allows users to watch streaming YouTube videos in its unlimited $40 plan, but its unclear if YouTube competitors such as Hulu and Netflix may be available only to subscribers of its $50 or $60 data plans. Also, the new plans offer preference for Metro PCS's own video service. That could make it more difficult for lower-income subscribers to get the best content on the Web over their wireless phones, the groups said. And it shows the weakness of FCC net neutrality rules that could allow carriers to create faster and slower lanes for mobile Internet content.