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Bit throttling may sound like a funny combination of words, but it’s no laughing matter. Especially if you’re Matt Spaccarelli, the California student who won a small-claims court decision against AT&T over its throttling of his smartphone data plan. When you buy a smartphone, you expect to browse the web, listen to music and watch movies, but it you are in the top 5% of data consumers, AT&T may send you a txt message telling you that it is going to slow down your data connection for the rest of your billing cycle. Mr. Spaccarelli didn’t think AT&T had the right to do it to him, so he sued AT&T in small claims court and won $850 in damages. He received the check this weekend. Sadly, the problem is not solved. AT&T had no comment and has no plans to change its policy on bit throttling, but, if you’re a victim, at least one California judge is on your side.
About Shelly Palmer
Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with AI strategy, implementation and governance, as well as technology, media and marketing. Named one of LinkedIn’s Top Voices in Technology, he is a bestselling author, covers tech and business for Fox 5’s Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN, and writes the popular daily business blog Think About This. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.