T-Mobile Reaches Agreement With FCC to Disclose More Accurate Throttling Speed Measurement Information
T-Mobile agreed with the FCC Monday to disclose more accurate information to consumers who check their mobile broadband speeds on the carrier’s network after they’ve reached their monthly data cap. Some applications that measure mobile broadband speeds currently tell T-Mobile…
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subscribers the full network’s speed instead of the speed of their personal mobile broadband connection after subscribers hit their data caps and begin to experience throttling. T-Mobile agreed to begin automatically sending text messages to subscribers who reach their data caps linking to an application that will provide accurate speed measurements. The carrier also agreed to modify its existing text messages to subscribers who hit their data caps to clarify the accuracy of speed tests under throttling conditions and provide a button on customers’ smartphones linking to speed tests that will provide accurate information on throttled speed measurements. T-Mobile also agreed to modify its website disclosures to clarify its policies on speed test applications. “The additional disclosures we’re providing to consumers on this issue will be sure to prevent any confusion and are another solid Un-carrier move,” said Andy Levin, T-Mobile senior vice president-government affairs, in a statement. T-Mobile subscribers “need this information to fully understand what they are getting with their broadband service,” said FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler in a news release. The FCC has been investigating the top four U.S. wireless carriers’ throttling policies (see 1408120057). Public Knowledge is “encouraged that the FCC and T-Mobile were able to come to an agreement that increases transparency for T-Mobile’s customers,” said Vice President Michael Weinberg in a statement. “However, we remain concerned that T-Mobile continues to prevent its subscribers from using the speed test application of their choice. … If T-Mobile is truly confident that they are managing their network responsibly, Public Knowledge hopes that they will free their subscribers to test their network connection with an application that they trust, not one that was pre-approved by T-Mobile.”