EFF sides with YouTube, says T-Mobile is throttling video on its network

By David Curry Published January 5, 2016

T-Mobile already had trouble with its Binge On program when it launched, with net neutrality advocates calling the network out for sidelining the laws. Now, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has sided with these advocates, claiming the program should be considered throttling.

In a report published on Monday, the EFF shows that T-Mobile’s “video optimization” is nothing more than network throttling. It lowers all video content, regardless of the service, to 1.5Mbps.

eff-test-results-t-mobile — EFF test results on T-Mobile network Image used with permission by copyright holder

That allows T-Mobile to cut the costs of supplying video content, by lowering the video quality to 480p. T-Mobile argues that most customers are simply incapable of viewing higher quality video, despite some customers suggesting they could watch HD video before the Binge On program launched.

Recommended Videos

YouTube is the biggest video provider in the U.S. to not support the Binge On program, and last week said T-Mobile is throttling its content. It wants to see the program become opt-in rather than opt-out, or have services unsupported removed from the program.

T-Mobile has not said whether it will honor YouTube’s requests. In a statement made shortly after YouTube’s comments, T-Mobile refuted claims it is throttling video content, despite clear evidence that it is lowering the bandwidth for video content across its network.

The third largest network might face more than angry customers and services in the near future, with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) sending letters to T-Mobile, AT&T, and Comcast on the new “data-free” services, which might break net neutrality laws set in place last year.

T-Mobile has been winning over customers with its new Un-Carrier deals, but this latest program might hurt the company, especially if video services or net neutrality advocates continue to fight against it. The EFF says the FCC should investigate the Binge On program, and we suspect in the next few months we will hear a lot more about the program’s future.

Former Contributor

David has been writing about technology for several years, following the latest trends and covering the largest events. He is…

Topics

Phones

The $1,500 flagship might be closer than you think

Flip phones already broke the $1,500 mark this year, and slab flagships aren't far behind.

iPhone 17 Pro and Google Pixel 10 Pro.

In July, a Google executive broke the silence on the ongoing memory crisis, highlighting a more than fourfold increase in RAM prices between 2025 and 2026, and I haven't stopped thinking about it since. The prices have gone up from $2.80 in 2025 to roughly $12 in 2026, as mentioned in the same report. Run the math for a 16GB memory package, and the cost to the company has apparently gone up from $45 to $192.

That's not a rounding error; it's the floor moving under the entire industry's feet. Google is not alone in speaking about the ongoing memory crisis. We've also seen Nothing's CEO speak about it, and other brands like Motorola, OnePlus, and Xiaomi make price adjustments across their lineup.

Phones

I’ve used the Pixel 10 Pro a year. I hope Google fixes these nagging issues on the Pixel 11 Pro

Electronics, Mobile Phone, Phone

I’ve been using the Google Pixel 10 Pro for almost a year now, which means I’ve had plenty of time to figure out what I love about it and, more importantly, what still gets on my nerves. And with the Pixel 11 Pro launching on August 12, just three days from now, my wishlist for Google has gotten pretty long. There’s a lot the Pixel already gets right. The software is still one of my favorite Android experiences, performance is generally solid, and Google’s Gemini features have become genuinely useful in ways I didn’t expect. Those are all big reasons I’ve stuck with Pixel phones for as long as I have.

But spend enough time with any phone and the little annoyances stop feeling so little. Over the past year, I’ve run into a handful of recurring Pixel problems that I really don’t want to carry over to another generation. Some have frustrated me for months, while others have made me question whether I can completely rely on my Pixel when I need it most. So, with the Pixel 11 Pro almost here, I have a few things I desperately want Google to get right this time.

Computing

Apple is testing Chinese DRAM even after CXMT refused to cut prices

Apple may be testing CXMT memory for iPhones and MacBooks

iPhone 17 Pro Max

Apple’s search for more memory supply has taken another step forward. The company is now testing DRAM from Chinese manufacturer CXMT across several products, including iPhones and MacBooks, according to The Wall Street Journal. Apple has also held early talks with CXMT about supplying memory for some devices sold in China and is seeking support from the US government before moving ahead.

The timing is particularly interesting. Just recently, we learned that a shortage of DRAM could already be holding up production of the A20 Pro chip expected inside the iPhone 18 Pro. TSMC is said to have around $1 billion worth of finished chips waiting for memory before packaging can continue.