FCC Endorsed Bit Rate Programs, AT&T Says

The FCC authorized AT&T’s maximum bit rate program, the carrier said in a comment filed Friday that hasn’t yet appeared in docket 14-28. The Enforcement Bureau is considering whether to issue a notice of apparent liability against AT&T alleging that the company's public disclosure of its maximum bit rate program failed to satisfy the FCC's transparency rule and proposing statutory forfeitures, AT&T said in a motion to dismiss filed Jan. 5. The FCC endorsed managed bit rate programs in staff reports on AT&T, Comcast and T-Mobile, AT&T said. The company disclosed its network management program and informed customers that it may “slow speeds once an unlimited plan customer has used a set amount of data” through bill statements, emails, text messages and its website since 2011, it said. T-Mobile recently agreed to offer more accurate information to customers checking their mobile broadband speeds after reaching their monthly data caps (see 1411240062).