T-Mobile’s Binge On Optimization is Just Throttling, Applies Indiscriminately
I think it is time to regulate the Internet. And before you all go ballistic on me, I mean the term "Internet". There should be a certain basic definition of the term, regulated by law. And just like you can't just put a sign up on your door and start calling your company a "Bank", you should not be able to advertise that you are providing the "Internet" without meeting certain regulations.<p>These regulations should be fairly basic: pass all IPv6 traffic unmodified, pass all IPv4 traffic unmodified except for NAT.<p>Then I would have a choice whether I want to pay for "Internet access", or "T-Mobile special limited edition we-will-modify-your-packets-as-we-see-fit networking package". Depending on pricing, the special limited edition networking package might actually work for me, but it should be clear that this is not the Internet.<p>On a related note, there is a similar problem in Poland: the state licensed new spectrum under the condition that the new operator would have to provide free internet to anyone who registers, for several years. Fast forward two years, and "free internet" means being disconnected every hour and having to solve a horrific CAPTCHA and go through several redirects to get any access, which of course pretty much excludes your MiFi or other router-like devices, and turns your online experience into walking a minefield (will I manage to place this order before my access blows up and I'll have to reconnect, losing the data I entered?). This problem would not exist if it wasn't for a vague definition of the term "Internet".