FCC to Spank AT&T with $100 Million Fine for Throttling Unlimited Data Plans
AT&T faces a $100 million fine that the Federal Communications Commission plans to impose on the wireless carrier for "misleading its customers about unlimited mobile data plans." In short, AT&T is in hot water for throttling speeds to customers of its unlimited data plans without adequately notifying them that they could receive slower connections.
While AT&T no longer offers unlimited data plans to new customers, the FCC says AT&T sold millions of unlimited plans to customers who previously signed up and chose to renew.
“Consumers deserve to get what they pay for,” said FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler. “Broadband providers must be upfront and transparent about the services they provide. The FCC will not stand idly by while consumers are deceived by misleading marketing materials and insufficient disclosure.”
AT&T first began offering unlimited data plans in 2007. Four years later, the wireless carrier implemented a "Maximum Bit Rate" policy that put a cap on the amount of data an unlimited data customer could consume. Anyone who went over the data cap suffered deliberately slower speeds.
AT&T faces a $100 million fine that the Federal Communications Commission plans to impose on the wireless carrier for "misleading its customers about unlimited mobile data plans." In short, AT&T is in hot water for throttling speeds to customers of its unlimited data plans without adequately notifying them that they could receive slower connections.
While AT&T no longer offers unlimited data plans to new customers, the FCC says AT&T sold millions of unlimited plans to customers who previously signed up and chose to renew.
“Consumers deserve to get what they pay for,” said FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler. “Broadband providers must be upfront and transparent about the services they provide. The FCC will not stand idly by while consumers are deceived by misleading marketing materials and insufficient disclosure.”
AT&T first began offering unlimited data plans in 2007. Four years later, the wireless carrier implemented a "Maximum Bit Rate" policy that put a cap on the amount of data an unlimited data customer could consume. Anyone who went over the data cap suffered deliberately slower speeds.
