Net neutrality rules are potentially being violated by AT&T and Verizon's zero-rating, says the FCC. According to the agency, those carriers may not be following the Open Internet Order by treating their streaming services differently from others.
In the case of both carriers, not all streaming options are treated equally. AT&T runs DirecTV Now and Verizon runs Go90. The FCC is more concerned about AT&T, but both companies appear to be treating their services favorably.
AT&T offers Sponsored Data to third-party content providers at terms... less favorable than those it offers to its affiliate, DirecTV.- FCC
Chairman Tom Wheeler says the agency believes AT&T offers "Sponsored Data" (paying to have services not count against user data limits) at "terms and conditions that are effectively less favorable" than what's offered to DirecTV Now.
The FCC voiced fewer concerns about Go90 primarily because it's competing in a "less developed" segment of the market than DirecTV Now.
Nonetheless, as noted above, there is the same potential for discriminatory conduct in favor of affiliated services.- FCC
This report excluded T-Mobile's BingeOn since it does charge the same rate to everyone who participates.
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