So Verizon was double-dipping?

[CPUwalkin]

I was frustrated in uninformed with the wifi hotspot fee when I upgraded to my DROID RAZR. That $20 fee that added 2GB to my data plan just didn't feel right but there was so much I didn't understand when it came to the many tethering apps that allowed circumvention - I was puzzled and I don't like the unknown.

Here's the result:

FCC Complaint Filed Against Verizon's Tethering Ban

Now additional third-party tethering apps have reportedly fallen off the Android Market, and the consumer group called Free Press has filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission claiming that the Big Red wireless carrier is violating some of the open access provisions it agreed to when it purchased the 700 MHz spectrum back in 2008.
"Recent news reports suggest that at Verizon’s behest, Google has disabled Verizon customers’ access to third-party tethering applications in Google’s Android Market application store," the complaint reads. "Plainly, Verizon’s actions in disabling access to the tethering applications limit and restrict the ability of users to access those applications. Because users download tethering applications for the express purpose of connecting additional devices to their data connections, Verizon’s actions also limit and restrict the ability of users to connect the devices of their choice to the LTE network. The Commission should immediately investigate this apparent violation of its rules and assess all appropriate penalties."


snip


PdaNet developer June Fabrics reveals the truth behind the claims. "Beginning April 2011 PdaNet has been delisted from the Android Market by some carriers since this very popular app - with over 3 million installs and 4.5+ ratings - shares your phone's Internet connection with your computer and does not require a tether fee or rooting your phone," the company says here. "This leaves a lot of our users stuck with an outdated version and no longer receive update notifications from Android Market."

Was it illegal for Verizon to charge for an access that was intrinsically free to service subscribers on that bandwidth?

This feels a bit like the woolly mammoth in the Starbucks that no one mentions. And surprise, surprise, surprise, Verizon rolls out a new billing plan. . ?