Verizon Get’s Slapped by FCC for No Free Tethering | Jeff Kagan Tech Analyst

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Jeff KAGAN

Tech Analyst

     

This is another embarrassing problem for Verizon Wireless, one of the top two wireless carriers in the United States. They seem to keep adding up.

Verizon is one of the big boys, and while I like them, from what I have heard, they really should have known better.

Verizon Wireless has been forced by the FCC to pay a $1.25 million fine for imposing restrictions on wireless phone customers. They charged about $20 a month to tether devices to their data plan. That was a big no-no.

Did Verizon forget, or just choose to ignore the FCC conditions that were imposed when they received the license? That is the real question I have.

Verizon blocked customers from accessing data apps which was the opposite of the terms of the “C-block” 700MHz spectrum license.

Verizon was given the license under the condition it allowed customers to freely use all devices and applications. They didn’t. That’s the problem.

To make the point, the FCC slapped Verizon, in the face and in public. FCC Chairman Julius Genechowski said compliance with FCC obligations are not optional. These were core conditions when Verizon purchased the C-block spectrum.

The FCC’s enforcement bureau chief, P. Michele Ellison said this case was the first of it’s kind enforcing the pro-consumer open-access obligations of the C-block rules.

Verizon was charging a separate and additional fee to tether on it’s Mobile Broadband Connect service.

One of the key problems is the way carriers like Verizon change the way they charge customers. Fee based, then unlimited, then fee based, then tethered and untethered. It’s enough to give you a headache. But this is the carriers changes. No one is forcing them to create the big bowl of spagetti. They are doing that themselves.

What’s interesting is this is just one of a growing number of mis-steps by Verizon and Verizon Wireless.

I wonder what is starting to happen over there?

We are moving toward a tethered future. All our smart phones, tablet computers, laptops and the like will all share a data plan.

This is a warning to other carriers to make sure they are in line as well.

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Please attribute to Jeff Kagan, Tech Industry Analyst with www.jeffKAGAN.com

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Jeff KAGAN| Tech Industry Analyst www.jeffKAGAN.com

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