Everyone’s favorite company with a logo that looks like the Death Star has weighed in on their own version of anti-gamer, anti-Net Neutrality commentary to the FCC:

In response to a Federal Communications Commission Public Notice seeking comments on how the term “broadband” should be defined, AT&T labeled gaming as an “aspirational” online service.

While basic web-browsing capabilities and email were termed core services in the brief dated August 31, 2009, gaming was lumped in with streaming video and real-time voice services. AT&T noted:

…for Americans who today have no terrestrial broadband service at all, the pressing concern is not the ability to engage in real-time, two-way gaming, but obtaining meaningful access to the Internet’s resources and to reliable email communications and other basic tools that most of the country has come to expect as a given.

This is just a poor argument fielded by AT&T in order to rationalize their rationing of bandwidth sold to customers based on the type of traffic. Worse, it singles out gamers specifically for biased treatment—why is it that any other user, i.e. those who want to download files, read e-mail, surf the web, et cetera buy the same 128kps down rate yet gamers shouldn’t expect to receive the same rate?

This is a problem with all pretense of biasing bandwidth rates based on customer traffic. There is no difference in the amount of traffic of a user who is downloading e-mail at 128kps and a user who is playing a video game transferring at 128kps. It’s telling someone who is taking a shower they cannot receive the same amount of water pressure as someone watering their garden (when both paid for the same water pressure.)

If I buy 128kps from my broadband provider, they sure as hell had better provide me up to 128kps no matter how I’m using it. If they’re unable to deliver me 128kps, what are they doing selling it to me in the first place?

Link, via Gamepolitics; or see AT&T’s full PDF brief.

The Entertainment Consumers Association urges gamers to get on board politically and write, call, and/or e-mail their Congressional representatives.

To: Legislators

Subject: Support HR 3458 and Preserve Internet Freedom

As a constituent and active gamer, I urge you to co-sponsor HR 3458, the Internet Freedom Preservation Act of 2009.

The Entertainment Consumers Association and I support HR 3458 which would protect the concept of Net Neutrality – the principal that keeps the internet open and free of obstructions and unnecessary fees. A neutral internet not only affects me, it affects all Americans, which is why over 1.6 million people have already raised our voices in support of the concept. Net Neutrality keeps high speed internet available and affordable. Whether I want to hang out in Second Life online, play World of Warcraft or Everquest online, use the internet in conjunction with my Xbox Live, or use the internet for a myriad other purposes, net neutrality protects my rights as a consumer.

It is in your power to protect your constituents’ rights, including mine, by supporting Net Neutrality, and I once again ask you to become a co-sponsor of HR 3458, the Internet Freedom Preservation Act of 2009. If you have any questions on this issue please contact Jennifer Mercurio, the Entertainment Consumers Association’s Director of Government Affairs, at jenn@theeca.com.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

This is the suggested letter that the ECA put forth, including an online form to send it.

Link, via Game Politics.