The policy is effective immediately and is intended to ensure that average data users aren’t negatively affected by the inordinate data consumption of just a few users. Says Verizon, “If you use an extraordinary amount of data and fall within the top 5 percent of Verizon Wireless data users we may reduce your data throughput speeds periodically for the remainder of your then current and immediately following billing cycle to ensure high quality network performance for other users at locations and times of peak demand.”

What constitutes an “extraordinary amount of data”? Verizon doesn’t say, but I’m sure its subscribers will know it when they hit it, because their speeds will drop for almost two billing cycles.

And to think that just a few weeks ago, Verizon was talking up its plan to offer iPhone buyers a $30 unlimited data plan. Evidently it applies to the amount of data only, not the rate at which it’s downloaded.

Verizon says the shift in policy has nothing to do with the looming debut of the iPhone (“There’s nothing magic about the timing.”), which is widely known to tax carrier networks. But the timing here makes it hard to believe. This is Verizon bracing itself for the iPhone data deluge.

Here’s the company’s statement on the issue:

AT&T and Alcatel-Lucent jointly identified a software defect–triggered under certain conditions–that impacted uplink performance for Laptop Connect and smartphone customers using 3G HSUPA-capable
wireless devices in markets with Alcatel-Lucent equipment. This impacts less than two percent of our wireless customer base. While Alcatel-Lucent develops the appropriate software fix, we are providing normal 3G uplink speeds and consistent performance for affected customers with HSUPA-capable devices.

“Our goal, when the T-Mobile G1 becomes available in October, is to provide affordable, high-speed data service allowing customers to experience the full data capabilities of the device and our 3G network,” T-Mobile (DT) explained. “At the same time, we have a responsibility to provide the best network experience for all of our customers so we reserve the right to temporarily reduce data throughput for a small fraction of our customers who have excessive or disproportionate usage that interferes with our network performance or our ability to provide quality service to all of our customers.”

Wait. “We reserve the right to temporarily reduce data throughput.” So T-Mobile’s removed the 1GB “soft cap” from its policy statement, but is still planning other restrictions to manage its network. Consider the two policy statement excerpts below:

If your total data usage in any billing cycle is more than 1GB, your data throughput for the remainder of that cycle may be reduced to 50 kbps or less. Your data session, plan, or service may be suspended, terminated, or restricted for significant roaming or if you use your service in a way that interferes with our network or ability to provide quality service to other users.”

– T-Mobile, “Important Notes About 3G and the T-Mobile G1,” Sept. 23, 2008

To provide the best network experience for all of our customers we may temporarily reduce data throughput for a small fraction of customers who use a disproportionate amount of bandwidth. Your data session, plan, or service may be suspended, terminated, or restricted for significant roaming or if you use your service in a way that interferes with our network or ability to provide quality service to other users.”

– T-Mobile, “Important Notes About 3G and the T-Mobile G1,” Sept. 25, 2008

These two policy excerpts aren’t all that different are they? “1GB” has been changed to “disproportionate amount of bandwidth.” And the reference to a reduction of data throughput to “50 kbps or less” has been rewritten as a general reduction in data throughput. No, they’re not different at all, really. In fact, with no hard number attached to it, “disproportionate amount of bandwidth” could still mean a 1GB cap, couldn’t it? Clearly, that’s how T-Mobile viewed 1GB of data usage in the first place, right? So what’s changed?

“Our goal, when the T-Mobile G1 becomes available in October, is to provide affordable, high-speed data service allowing customers to experience the full data capabilities of the device and our 3G network,” T-Mobile (DT) explained. “At the same time, we have a responsibility to provide the best network experience for all of our customers so we reserve the right to temporarily reduce data throughput for a small fraction of our customers who have excessive or disproportionate usage that interferes with our network performance or our ability to provide quality service to all of our customers.”

Wait. “We reserve the right to temporarily reduce data throughput.” So T-Mobile’s removed the 1GB “soft cap” from its policy statement, but is still planning other restrictions to manage its network. Consider the two policy statement excerpts below:

If your total data usage in any billing cycle is more than 1GB, your data throughput for the remainder of that cycle may be reduced to 50 kbps or less. Your data session, plan, or service may be suspended, terminated, or restricted for significant roaming or if you use your service in a way that interferes with our network or ability to provide quality service to other users.”

– T-Mobile, “Important Notes About 3G and the T-Mobile G1,” Sept. 23, 2008

To provide the best network experience for all of our customers we may temporarily reduce data throughput for a small fraction of customers who use a disproportionate amount of bandwidth. Your data session, plan, or service may be suspended, terminated, or restricted for significant roaming or if you use your service in a way that interferes with our network or ability to provide quality service to other users.”

– T-Mobile, “Important Notes About 3G and the T-Mobile G1,” Sept. 25, 2008

These two policy excerpts aren’t all that different are they? “1GB” has been changed to “disproportionate amount of bandwidth.” And the reference to a reduction of data throughput to “50 kbps or less” has been rewritten as a general reduction in data throughput. No, they’re not different at all, really. In fact, with no hard number attached to it, “disproportionate amount of bandwidth” could still mean a 1GB cap, couldn’t it? Clearly, that’s how T-Mobile viewed 1GB of data usage in the first place, right? So what’s changed?