diff --git a/core/java/android/net/ConnectivityManager.java b/core/java/android/net/ConnectivityManager.java
index eb9cd213dd..68e80ff7d2 100644
--- a/core/java/android/net/ConnectivityManager.java
+++ b/core/java/android/net/ConnectivityManager.java
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import static com.android.internal.util.Preconditions.checkNotNull;
 import android.annotation.SdkConstant;
 import android.annotation.SdkConstant.SdkConstantType;
 import android.os.Binder;
+import android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES;
 import android.os.RemoteException;
 
 import java.net.InetAddress;
@@ -494,16 +495,19 @@ public class ConnectivityManager {
      * <p>
      * All applications that have background services that use the network
      * should listen to {@link #ACTION_BACKGROUND_DATA_SETTING_CHANGED}.
+     * <p>
+     * As of {@link VERSION_CODES#ICE_CREAM_SANDWICH}, availability of
+     * background data depends on several combined factors, and this method will
+     * always return {@code true}. Instead, when background data is unavailable,
+     * {@link #getActiveNetworkInfo()} will now appear disconnected.
      *
      * @return Whether background data usage is allowed.
      */
+    @Deprecated
     public boolean getBackgroundDataSetting() {
-        try {
-            return mService.getBackgroundDataSetting();
-        } catch (RemoteException e) {
-            // Err on the side of safety
-            return false;
-        }
+        // assume that background data is allowed; final authority is
+        // NetworkInfo which may be blocked.
+        return true;
     }
 
     /**
@@ -516,11 +520,9 @@ public class ConnectivityManager {
      * @see #getBackgroundDataSetting()
      * @hide
      */
+    @Deprecated
     public void setBackgroundDataSetting(boolean allowBackgroundData) {
-        try {
-            mService.setBackgroundDataSetting(allowBackgroundData);
-        } catch (RemoteException e) {
-        }
+        // ignored
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/core/java/android/net/IConnectivityManager.aidl b/core/java/android/net/IConnectivityManager.aidl
index f3912005a6..1b95b60a53 100644
--- a/core/java/android/net/IConnectivityManager.aidl
+++ b/core/java/android/net/IConnectivityManager.aidl
@@ -63,10 +63,6 @@ interface IConnectivityManager
 
     boolean requestRouteToHostAddress(int networkType, in byte[] hostAddress);
 
-    boolean getBackgroundDataSetting();
-
-    void setBackgroundDataSetting(boolean allowBackgroundData);
-
     boolean getMobileDataEnabled();
 
     void setMobileDataEnabled(boolean enabled);
diff --git a/services/java/com/android/server/ConnectivityService.java b/services/java/com/android/server/ConnectivityService.java
index acfc7a4d95..2bb952ee8b 100644
--- a/services/java/com/android/server/ConnectivityService.java
+++ b/services/java/com/android/server/ConnectivityService.java
@@ -163,8 +163,6 @@ public class ConnectivityService extends IConnectivityManager.Stub {
     private boolean mTestMode;
     private static ConnectivityService sServiceInstance;
 
-    private AtomicBoolean mBackgroundDataEnabled = new AtomicBoolean(true);
-
     private INetworkManagementService mNetd;
     private INetworkPolicyManager mPolicyManager;
 
@@ -212,13 +210,6 @@ public class ConnectivityService extends IConnectivityManager.Stub {
     private static final int EVENT_INET_CONDITION_HOLD_END =
             MAX_NETWORK_STATE_TRACKER_EVENT + 5;
 
-    /**
-     * used internally to set the background data preference
-     * arg1 = TRUE for enabled, FALSE for disabled
-     */
-    private static final int EVENT_SET_BACKGROUND_DATA =
-            MAX_NETWORK_STATE_TRACKER_EVENT + 6;
-
     /**
      * used internally to set enable/disable cellular data
      * arg1 = ENBALED or DISABLED
@@ -317,9 +308,6 @@ public class ConnectivityService extends IConnectivityManager.Stub {
         handlerThread.start();
         mHandler = new MyHandler(handlerThread.getLooper());
 
-        mBackgroundDataEnabled.set(Settings.Secure.getInt(context.getContentResolver(),
-                Settings.Secure.BACKGROUND_DATA, 1) == 1);
-
         // setup our unique device name
         if (TextUtils.isEmpty(SystemProperties.get("net.hostname"))) {
             String id = Settings.Secure.getString(context.getContentResolver(),
@@ -1225,35 +1213,6 @@ public class ConnectivityService extends IConnectivityManager.Stub {
         return true;
     }
 
-    /**
-     * @see ConnectivityManager#getBackgroundDataSetting()
-     */
-    public boolean getBackgroundDataSetting() {
-        return mBackgroundDataEnabled.get();
-    }
-
-    /**
-     * @see ConnectivityManager#setBackgroundDataSetting(boolean)
-     */
-    public void setBackgroundDataSetting(boolean allowBackgroundDataUsage) {
-        mContext.enforceCallingOrSelfPermission(
-                android.Manifest.permission.CHANGE_BACKGROUND_DATA_SETTING,
-                "ConnectivityService");
-
-        mBackgroundDataEnabled.set(allowBackgroundDataUsage);
-
-        mHandler.sendMessage(mHandler.obtainMessage(EVENT_SET_BACKGROUND_DATA,
-                (allowBackgroundDataUsage ? ENABLED : DISABLED), 0));
-    }
-
-    private void handleSetBackgroundData(boolean enabled) {
-        Settings.Secure.putInt(mContext.getContentResolver(),
-                Settings.Secure.BACKGROUND_DATA, enabled ? 1 : 0);
-        Intent broadcast = new Intent(
-                ConnectivityManager.ACTION_BACKGROUND_DATA_SETTING_CHANGED);
-        mContext.sendBroadcast(broadcast);
-    }
-
     /**
      * @see ConnectivityManager#getMobileDataEnabled()
      */
@@ -2268,12 +2227,6 @@ public class ConnectivityService extends IConnectivityManager.Stub {
                     handleSetNetworkPreference(preference);
                     break;
                 }
-                case EVENT_SET_BACKGROUND_DATA:
-                {
-                    boolean enabled = (msg.arg1 == ENABLED);
-                    handleSetBackgroundData(enabled);
-                    break;
-                }
                 case EVENT_SET_MOBILE_DATA:
                 {
                     boolean enabled = (msg.arg1 == ENABLED);