And this was Verizon's reply?
Verizon blocks unlicensed tethering, insists it can charge extra | Ars Technica
Quote:
Customers who use tethering apps that don't have carrier-approved tethering plans have recently been a point of debate in net neutrality policy. Both AT&T and Verizon have forbidden such unapproved tethering in their customer agreements for years now, but the advocacy group Free Press recently complained to the FCC that blocking tethering apps "curtails, restrains, and interferes" with the ability of customers to use apps of their choice, something that would violate the open access rules Verizon agreed to when it bought a won the 700MHz "C block" of spectrum at auction.
Verizon responded to the Free Press complaint, stating that since it is not blocking tethering entirely, but rather charging for the privilege of using it, the company would be doing nothing wrong in preventing customers from circumventing these charges. The company says that C-block rules "permit nondiscriminatory tiered or usage-based pricing plans that require customers with greater capabilities or higher usage patterns to pay a higher fee." Tetherers use vastly more data than the average mobile user, according to Verizon, and therefore should be charged more.
In the statement, Verizon goes on to say that it should be uncontroversial to halt apps that allow customers to avoid paying more for a service they use more of, and "any other conclusion would be nonsensical."
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Nifty. So now data access is sold in blocks with the "surcharge" included.
Well, I suppose it may help wean the mobile ethernet addicted of +8 hours/day streaming? (Yes, I really don't understand the folks who have to be wired in and oblivious to the real world - guess my age is showing, yes?)