However, as for the data cap on unlimited plans: somw companies say and mean unlimited. For example, Verizon has true, unlimited, with a few caveats. First, it must be smartphone data. No tethering. (Tethering plans are limiited to 5gb/month.) Second, if you go above 5gb, they WILL start taking a close look at you. If they see tethering activities (watching a bunch of Netflix movies on your Blackberry, for example) then they’ll charge you an arm and a leg. Third–and this is where the net neutrality portion comes in–they will limit the types of data you can DL/UL and the sizes. Ex: you can’t upload YouTube videos past a certain size w/o wifi. If they can control this they can control most of the traffic hard hitters. Provided there conditions are met, though, your data plan with them truly is unlimited.

Needless to say, any U.S. carrier’s “unlimited” plans, really aren’t. They all have fine print saying if you go over a certain amount they will cut you off. It sounds like AT&T is just finally being honest about it. The word “unlimited” is just a marketing gimmick that gives us consumers a warm and fuzzy feeling that makes it feel okay to hand over $100 a month to our cell phone carrier.