• by Gavin O'Malley , Staff Writer @mp_gavin, September 9, 2016

Does AT&T need a refresher course on existing net neutrality rules?

How else can you explain the company’s decision to exempt DirecTV streaming video from data caps on its mobile Web service?

AT&T, of course, bought the digital broadcast satellite service last year. But there are rules regarding how Internet service providers and mobile carriers can handle Web traffic. In general, the FCC wants them to treat all traffic equally -- which doesn’t appear to be the case here. 

To be clear, AT&T isn’t the only telecom testing the FCC’s patience with data cap exceptions, a.k.a., “zero rating” services.

The FCC doesn’t explicitly forbid zero-rating services, but it’s currently taking a closer look at the practice.

In the meantime, Verizon Wireless presently exempts its own video service from data caps.

T-Mobile also recently opted to exempt Pokemon Go from its customers' monthly data allotments.

Last year, meanwhile, T-Mobile launched Binge On: a service that exempts video streams offered by 100 or so companies from data caps.

At least for the moment, ISPs and carriers appear to be getting their way. This summer, former FCC Chairman Reed Hundt said it was unlikely that the regulator would crack down on zero-rating services.

As Hundt reportedly stated: “Being against free is not very popular.”