MetroPCS has challenged the FCC net neutrality rules as the fifth-largest carrier said it is trying to ensure that competition in the wireless space isn’t threatened.
MetroPCS is the second major carrier to challenge these rules, as Verizon has also filed an appeal in federal court. These carriers believe that the FCC net neutrality rules will impose undue hardships on the nascent mobile data space and this could hurt the business and impact innovation.
MetroPCS has been accused of discriminating against some services and apps with its 4G LTE network, which it has denied. These accusations have also led to it challenging the FCC net neutrality rules.
“MetroPCS is committed to promoting competition and an open Internet by giving consumers choices for wireless Internet access services at prices they can afford,” MetroPCS CEO Roger Linquist said in a statement.
The funny thing about the challenges from MetroPCS and Verizon is that the FCC net neutrality rules are actually pretty darn light on the mobile broadband space. In fact, the rules and guidelines are almost exactly what Verizon and Google proposed a few months ago.
In essence, the FCC says all wireline connections cannot discriminate on Internet content unless there is a reasonable cause like network management or security. While this gets into gray areas when you talk about things like torrenting, many agree that this is the right way to go.
The FCC is not laying the hammer down on wireless broadband though, as it says this is too young of an industry and it doesn’t want to hamper the innovation in this space. Additionally, there are issues with bandwidth and spectrum that aren’t present with landline connections, so it gives these providers more leeway.
Perhaps Verizon and MetroPCS aren’t fully opposed to the rules but have a healthy fear that once government regulation starts, it won’t end with just a light touch.
