Netflix tells FCC that Internet Service Providers cap data unreasonably

None of us are fans of data caps. Heck, maybe that’s why so many users are willing to take a string of caveats for an unlimited data plan or pay out of pocket for each new smartphone to maintain their grandfathered status. But data caps aren’t just a problem in the mobile world. Netflix says ISPs are being unreasonable.

Last week Netflix appealed the FCC as part of the regular review of the Telecommunications Act. The popular streamer said that carriers and ISPs in general are capping data in a way that harms regular citizens.

“Data caps (especially low data caps) and usage-based pricing (‘UBP’) discourage a consumer’s consumption of broadband, and may impede the ability of some households to watch Internet television in a manner and amount that they would like,” said Netflix. “For this reason, the Commission should hold that data caps on fixed-­line networks ­­and low data caps on mobile networks­­ may unreasonably limit Internet television viewing and are inconsistent with Section 706.”

Netflix claims that service providers are using data caps on streaming video to force subscribers back over to their traditional television service. The company says that this policy is discriminatory, and that any data cap in the realm of 300 GB is a disservice to the subscriber.

“Today’s ‘above-average’ Internet consumer is tomorrow’s average Internet consumer,” said Netflix.

The Telecommunications Act exists to ensure that technology is being fairly rolled out to the population in a reasonable way. Netflix says that the technology and bandwidth exist to render these data caps unnecessary, but that ISPs are setting artificial limits for their own gain.

What are your thoughts regarding Netflix’s accusations that ISPs are capping data for reasons that don’t have the consumer’s best interest in mind? Let us know in the comments below!