Rumors of AT&T charges for FaceTime could be another challenge to FCC Net Neutrality regulations

Rumors that AT&T will introduce special charges for users that want to use FaceTime over 3G have surfaced in the last couple of days. The rumors appeared after Apple released its third beta version of iOS6. For beta testers using an AT&T iPhone, a message appeared when they tried to use FaceTime over 3G. 

The message directed the user to contact AT&T to set up the feature. This is consistent with how the iPhone tethering works in the US (a feature which is free in many other markets).

If these rumors actually turn out to be true when iOS6 is released later this year it is probably going to be viewed as another challenge by the Verizon / AT&T duo to the FCC. It appears to be a challenge to even the weaker net neutrality rules that the FCC passed for the wireless carriers.

This is yet another try by carriers to tax services that other companies have innovated and is testament to the inability of carriers to add value to their customers.