December 14, 2009 
Douglas 
Recently, AT&T has hinted at charging high bandwidth users more for their data usage. Apparently, people are a little unhappy about it and are going to attempt to bring AT&T “to it’s knees”. How? A website called “The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs” has asked it’s readers to join them by using as much data over the cellular network as possible on Friday, December 18th at noon Pacific.
Subject: Operation Chokehold
On Friday, December 18, at noon Pacific time, we will attempt to overwhelm the AT&T data network and bring it to its knees. The goal is to have every iPhone user (or as many as we can) turn on a data intensive app and run that app for one solid hour. Send the message to AT&T that we are sick of their substandard network and sick of their abusive comments. The idea is we’ll create a digital flash mob. We’re calling it in Operation Chokehold. Join us and speak truth to power!
If you’d like to get involved, here’s some tips. Obviously, turn off your Wifi; the point here is to bog down the cellular network so you’ll want to avoid connecting to a local wireless network. Also, you’ll want to use a high bandwidth app like YouTube or other video website. Make sure you check out the comments on the blog linked to above, there are some great ideas on using up bandwidth like NASA’s live video stream or Ustream’s new uploader.
Do you plan on joining in Operation Chokehold? (Bring Down AT&T Network)
- Yes (69%, 380 Votes)
- No (31%, 170 Votes)
Total Voters: 550
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i am totally going to do this… just saying.
Me too!
Me three
Absolutely on board. Hmm… Pandora or Nasa Live Stream? I wonder…
i will be using stickam ustream and pandora radio
Will ESPN radio suffice? I listen to it everyday, so won’t be anything out of the ordinary for me. But I guess I could watch a bunch of transformer episodes
Wouldn’t this make AT&T’s proposal to charge “high bandwidth” users more likely? It would seem that if this lock-down was successful, AT&T would have no choice BUT to follow through with their plan. Am I missing something here?
I’m sorry, but how is disrupting cell service for everyone going to make AT&T less likely to charge for high data usage?
This is childish, and I suspect it will be a huge fail anyway.
It’s always nice to make a point unless it backfires.
lol i just thought of a great idea…lets use our jailbreaking powers to bring them down more….lets all run an app and then activate BACKGROUNDER and run as many apps as possible…im a genius lol
I will be joining,but i really doubt cellular service will be interupted,we will be using the data portion on the cellphone not the voice portion,does not AT&T say we can check our e-mail and talk at the same time?
Just do it and see if it really did anyting towards AT&T,if not,well then it was just another day.
Not sure if the data charges will increase,but i have read on the Wall Street Journal Ticker that who ever did not use all of their data enough would get a discount.
The point to all of this is that AT&T offers unlimited data usage on the iPhone. When I bought the device and signed up for a 2 year contract, I expect unlimited data. This would be considered bait and switch to me if they do this. I doubt they will. They may do it for new accounts but anyone with an existing account will most likely keep their plan the way it is.
As an AT&T employee.. the unlimited data plans are up to 5GB.. the iPhone is the only true “Unlimited” data plan.
If “the unlimited data plans are up to 5GB.. the iPhone is the only true “Unlimited” data plan.” then people can cancel their when AT&T charge for data over 5GB. So that can’t be true!!!.
I wish they did that I would cancel every contract and not have to pay the ETF and have a very happy christmas.
These will only effected people who using the same cell tower and not AT&T network as a whole. So these might show up as usage spike for AT&T, but won’t change anything. Also the battery will run out so quick.
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Let’s all hope no one using ATT mobile needs to call the police, fire or ambulance during this “stunt”…
How is 5GB = unlimited? Someone needs to go back to the university.
i agree on that =)
I highly doubt this worked. I suggest making a group on Facebook and myspace and just trying to find as many people with iphones to join it and Set a date for like may or June. This would give ample time to get a crap ton of users and hit a broader group of people. Just a suggestion.