FCC Chairman isn't Buying Verizon's Excuse to Throttle 4G LTE Data for Unlimited Subs

[[Coi] Mr.CLuBBeR]

Verizon's decision to throttle data for certain users grandfathered in to the company's older unlimited data plans has drawn the ire of the Federal Communications Commission. In an open letter, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler tells Verizon that he is "deeply troubled" by its recent announcement and finds it "disturbing" that the wireless carrier would try to take advantage of a loophole to bring in more money.
The letter concerns Verizon's announcement earlier this week that it plans to throttle 4G LTE data connections for unlimited subscribers who fall within the top 5 percent of data users. Verizon claims the decision falls within its network optimization policy, but Wheeler believes it's a bogus excuse.
"'Reasonable network management' concerns the technical management of your network; it is not a loophole designed to enhance your revenue streams," Wheeler wrote in an open letter (PDF) to Verizon. "It is disturbing to me that Verizon Wireless could base its 'network management' on distinctions among its customers' data plans, rather than on network architecture or technology."
Wheeler goes on to explain that the FCC considers network management practices to be reasonable if it is appropriate and tailored to achieving a legitimate network management purpose, such as ensuring network security and integrity, addressing traffic that is unwanted by end users, and mitigating network congestion. According to Wheeler, Verizon's decision isn't based on technical management of its network, but designed to increase its revenue stream.
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