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Verizon Wireless Caves To FCC Pressure, Says It Won't Throttle 4G Users

Posted by samzenpus on from the don't-throttle-me-bro dept.

MetalliQaZ writes Verizon Wireless was scheduled to begin throttling certain LTE users today as part of an expanded "network optimization" program, but has decided not to follow through with the controversial plan after criticism from Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler. All major carriers throttle certain users when cell sites get too congested, but Wheeler and consumer advocates objected to how carriers choose which customers to throttle. The fact that Verizon was throttling only unlimited data users showed that it was trying to boost its profits rather than implementing a reasonable network management strategy, Wheeler said.

6 of 46 comments (clear)

  1. what's this? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    A sensible decision from the FCC ?
    Next you're gonna tell me they decided against the fast lanes?

  2. Throttle, indeed by Wootery · · Score: 4, Funny

    Verizon confirms new 'strangulation' policy.

  3. Re:English is so wonderful flexible. by binarylarry · · Score: 4, Funny

    I wouldn't be surprised if you told me that Verizon execs were carried around on golden chariots carried by starved eunuch slave children.

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  4. 4G is Losing to Wifi by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    This is really just a PR spin on desperation. Verizon can't afford to alienate 4G users, they invested heavily in 4G (and dumped all new fios investments) because they thought 4G would be a cash cow. But all the data caps and throttling they've done have chased customers to free wifi hotspots and there ain't no reason to come back.

    1. Re:4G is Losing to Wifi by jtownatpunk.net · · Score: 5, Informative

      It's not PR spin. They're not allowed to throttle LTE service for grandfathered unlimited accounts. It's part of the agreement they made with the government when they bought the 700Mhz spectrum. They were probably hoping everyone had forgotten.

  5. Re:I wonder how he is... by StikyPad · · Score: 4, Insightful

    To be fair, he didn't actually do anything regarding throttling except to voice disapproval. As someone else mentioned, making noise and taking action are two different things, and so far he's really only done the former. It's an improvement over past chairmen, perhaps, but not something we should necessarily be satisfied with.

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