T-Mobile and YouTube compromise on video throttling and zero-rating

T-Mobile USA and YouTube have reached a compromise that will bring YouTube into T-Mobile's Binge On program, which reduces streaming quality but exempts videos from data caps.

YouTube was the most notable absence from Binge On when T-Mobile launched the program in November. YouTube later said that while reducing data charges can be good for customers, "it doesn’t justify throttling all video services, especially without explicit user consent." T-Mobile announced that YouTube, Google Play Movies, and a few other services have joined Binge On, bringing the total to more than 50 (including its own T-Mobile TV). YouTube explained its change of heart, saying that T-Mobile has made changes to Binge On that make it easier for both customers and video services to opt out of the service. "The initial implementation of the Binge On program raised questions from both users and video services, including YouTube," the post said. "For instance, we didn’t think it was clear how the program would be implemented for video services that were not included in the 'free streaming' portion of the Binge On program. We also thought users needed more help to understand how the program worked and how to exercise their options."