On Tuesday, MetroPCS — the fifth-largest wireless carrier in the US — filed a lawsuit, alongside the one filed by Verizon last week. The company hopes to overturn the FCC’s Net Neutrality order passed in December.
The suit comes after public interest groups, including Free Press, raised concerns over MetroPCS’ new 4G service plans that appear to allow subscribers unlimited access to certain applications like YouTube, but would block others including Netflix and Skype. MetroPCS has not yet responded to the groups’ allegations, indicating that it would do so by February 11.
Free Press Policy Counsel M. Chris Riley made the following statement:
“Instead of responding to the public outcry over its walled-garden practices by offering open Internet access services, MetroPCS has chosen to follow the lead of Verizon Wireless and sue the FCC to strike down the Commission’s weak, loophole-ridden rules. Like a thief caught red-handed, MetroPCS — rather than change its ways — is now trying to legalize stealing.
“What we’re seeing are the early signs of a full scale assault on the open Internet. MetroPCS hopes that by helping to vacate the rules in court, it will be able to continue with its anti-consumer, anti-competitive practices of blocking popular applications like Skype and Netflix unless its subscribers pay a steep ransom.”