Zero-Rated Wireless Offerings Good for Consumers, CTIA Official Says
Zero-rated offerings from wireless carriers are good for consumers, Scott Bergmann, CTIA vice president-regulatory affairs, said Friday in a blog post. “Ever dial a toll-free number?” Bergmann asked. “Or purchase an item online with free shipping? I’m sure you have.…
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And each time, you’re benefiting from a form of what some advocates call ‘zero rating’ -- in other words, free services that provide consumers with more without paying more.” Bergmann cited FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler’s initial positive comments from November on Binge On, T-Mobile’s zero-rated video streaming service (see 1511190045). “Wheeler was right -- free data services are ‘highly innovative and highly competitive,’” Bergmann wrote. “We want operators competing for customers on price, quality and new offerings like free data. It is competition that compels companies to roll out new ways of improving service and consumers win.” Zero-rated offerings also encourage experimentation and meet demands for more data, he said. “Consumers demand more and more mobile data, particularly for video services,” Bergmann said. “We want to help meet that demand and promote usage on our smartphones and tablets to embrace the connected life and the Internet of Things.”