AT&T;, Comcast, T-Mobile face FCC questions on free data

Comcast's new app is similar to T-Mobile's Binge On and Music Freedom plans, whereby customers can use the service in an unlimited manner without exhausting the data allowance provided by the Internet service provider. CMCSA and T-Mobile US, Inc.'s TMUS free data offers for video streaming.

Some net neutrality supporters have said the FCC should investigate whether the offering would violate the agency's open-Internet rule by unfairly favoring some video providers' offerings.

FCC chairman Tom Wheeler told reporters that commission staff sent letters on Wednesday to AT&T;, Comcast and T-Mobile "to come in and have a discussion with us about some of the innovative things that they are doing".

Some believe such models enable carriers to boost favored content, which would run afoul of the FCC's net neutrality guidelines. "We need to promote and facilitate new offerings and innovations for consumers if we are to lead the world in mobile services going forward".

Comcast, relieves its own "Stream TV" (in-home streaming service) from the cap.

In the letters, officials said that the commission wanted to "have all the facts" about how the three firms' services relate "to the Commission's goal of maintaining a free and open Internet while incentivizing innovation and investment from all sources".

All three companies have been promoting programs whereby customers can stream some video and other content without having that traffic count toward their monthly data plan allowances.

Comcast's Stream TV offers a proprietary mix of live and on-demand content, while AT&T; is simply marketing "sponsored data", allowing any outside party to pay for customers' data consumption.

The FCC asked that the companies respond no later than January 15, 2016 - though Wheeler emphasized that the letters were not part of a larger investigation on his agency's part. AT&T; has inked deals with at least six companies for the service.

Zero-rating could potentially violate that prohibition depending on the circumstances; the FCC has said it intends to take a case-by-case approach the question.

The net-neutrality rules were passed on a partisan vote by Wheeler and the FCC's other two Democratic members.

The bureau said the extension was necessary to allow time for the Office of Management and Budget to complete the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) approval process for the information collection and disclosure requirements under the enhanced transparency rules.