Is MetroPCS 4G a Wallled Garden Without Skype and Netflix?

[jayfish]

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/01/metropcs-4g-wireless-walled-garden-without-skype-and-netflix.ars

None of this was received with gratitude by the advocacy group Free Press. These new offerings "exist inside a 'walled garden' that appears to exclude Skype, Netflix, and other popular consumer Internet services," the organization charges.

"In December, the chose to disregard wireless protections in its Net Neutrality order, and MetroPCS's new scheme is a preview of the wireless future in a world without protections on the mobile Web," Free Press's Chris Riley continued. "Such blocking of websites, services or applications would clearly be prohibited and deemed unreasonable on a cable or DSL network. Are these the kinds of restrictions the FCC really wants to promote on wireless networks?"

That's a good question

There's a lot to parse out here. Do any of these MetroPCS plans actually involve the "blocking of websites"? Even if the FCC's new net neutrality Order did prohibit unreasonable discrimination over wireless networks, would the prohibition of an application on a mobile phone count as a violation of that principle?

But even before we get to those sticky wickets, let's tackle Free Press accusation number one—that the new service excludes Skype and Netflix. Based on our research, the preliminary answer to that question appears to be yes.

This is what happens when you leave these blood suckers any wiggle room what-so-ever.