After first announcing its intentions to expand its Network Optimization rules to LTE users in July, Verizon has apparently decided that continuing to anger a federal regulator isn’t a very good idea. Below, Verizon’s statement on the decision to drop its Network Optimization rules for LTE users on unlimited plans:
Verizon is committed to providing its customers with an unparalleled mobile network experience. At a time of ever-increasing mobile broadband data usage, we not only take pride in the way we manage our network resources, but also take seriously our responsibility to deliver exceptional mobile service to every customer. We’ve greatly valued the ongoing dialogue over the past several months concerning network optimization and we’ve decided not to move forward with the planned implementation of network optimization for 4G LTE customers on unlimited plans. Exceptional network service will always be our priority and we remain committed to working closely with industry stakeholders to manage broadband issues so that American consumers get the world-class mobile service they expect and value.
Shortly after Verizon announced its intentions, the FCC raised concerns that the carrier’s plans were not in the best interest of customers and were merely a smokescreen to force customers onto tiered data plans. Since then, the FCC has kept its eye on Verizon with the intention of forcing the carrier to drop its plans through increased scrutiny, rather than trying to force the issue through any sort of ruling or regulation.
With this development, many Verizon customers with unlimited LTE access out of contract will be able to breathe a sigh of relief and not have to worry about being throttled, as well as not have to worry about signing a new agreement to keep unlimited access locked in. However, the situation isn’t completely over yet, as Verizon still uses the Network Optimization rules on its 3G network and will likely find other ways to force customers on data plans with unlimited LTE off of those plans onto higher cost tiered data plans.
