Another formal response from MetroPCS, as the wireless provider appeals to the FCC and Free Press regarding the investigation positioned against it.  This time, they dare the FCC to investigate, proving MetroPCS’s non-compliance against net neutrality regulations.  It’s actually the “spirit” of net neutrality MetroPCS adheres to, and its extensive document to the FCC details exactly what that means for the growing company.

After tiering its phone plans to ease in the 4G network provisions, MetroPCS is facing allegations of opposing the laws around net neutrality.  MetroPCS and others, including sector leader Verizon, feel the FCC is overstepping its legal bounds.

Meddlers, are they?  The FCC has already sent a request for the suing parties to drop the repeal the agency’s new net neutrality rules, which passed by a 3-2 vote last December.  MetroPCS now steps forward, insisting their acknowledgement of net neutrality laws.  As MetroPCS’s letter to Chairman Genachowski states,  “the innovative pro-consumer, pro-competitive broadband data offerings of MetroPCS are fully compliant with both the letter and the spirit of the Net Neutrality Order. 3.”

The letter goes on in some detail for another 20 pages or so, detailing their current situation, goals and obstacles as they try to build defenses against industry powers, like AT&T.  Its a plea of proof, and a bit of a challenge, poking the FCC to re-address the whole of the matter.  Looks like MetroPCS still has a certain “spirit” of its own, maintaining its stance regarding net neutrality, and its business backbone too.

Mark “Rizzn” Hopkins was kind enough to read through this lengthy overture on your behalf.  We actually combed through it together via gchat, so here’s the cliff notes on what MetroPCS has to say to the FCC:

Dear FCC –

We heard about this crap someone said about us being evil.
We’re successful and growing.
But we’re not a major player. we have limited spectrum. (we’re not AT&T after all).
So we’re phasing in our 4G service.
This means we can’t open up the pipe full throttle right away (hence tiering).
The Craft (our first 4g device) is a feature phone, not a smartphone, so it can’t use most of this stuff anyway.
(stuff being full internet).

Data hasn’t been a major focus of MetroPCS – we were a voice company. however we’re transitioning to data.
Consumer demand for data (which we couldn’t do on an EVDO network very well) was what brought us to 4g services.
Our pricing has always been competitive and fair.

All our phones, btw, are wifi enabled, so there’s that.
We’re going to allow EVERYONE to use voip if they want, regardless of tier.

YouTube isn’t paying us to be whitelisted. They’re just really big and impossible to ignore.
(good lord this is going on forever.)
We won’t ever block a URL, regardless of the tier.

And then there are about 20 bullet points as to why the Free Press post is full of sh*t.
And then a conclusion to “investigate us if you don’t believe us.”

That’s the bulletpoint summary. :)