FCC Says Verizon Can't Block Tethering Apps
Verizon had previously been preventing users from using applications to set up their own 4G LTE hotspots. However, because the carrier's 4G LTE service is on the C Block spectrum, the company is forced to abide by the C Block rules. Specifically, FCC rules for licensees offering service on C Block spectrum "shall not deny, limit, or restrict the ability of their customers to use the devices and applications of their choice on the licensee's C Block network." According to this rule, blocking customers from downloading tethering applications isn't allowed.
"Today's action demonstrates that compliance with FCC obligations is not optional," said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. "The open device and application obligations were core conditions when Verizon purchased the C-block spectrum. The massive innovation and investment fueled by the Internet have been driven by consumer choice in both devices and applications. The steps taken today will not only protect consumer choice, but defend certainty for innovators to continue to deliver new services and apps without fear of being blocked."
Prior to the settlement with the FCC, Verizon was blocking customers from using tethering apps and instead required those that wanted to tether pay $20 extra for the company's 'Mobile Broadband Connect' service. The carrier was afraid that people would use tethering apps to get out of paying that charge.
Verizon Wireless has agreed to pay $1.25 million to put an end to the investigation. The company has also committed to notifying the Google Play Store that it no longer objects to the availability of the tethering applications to C-Block network customers.
Follow @JaneMcEntegart on Twitter.
Don't hold your breath for too long. This ruling stop's carriers from blocking "Third party apps" from unlocking tethering capabilities. Apple does not allow third party apps to unlock tethering capability on your iDevices.
Don't hold your breath for too long. This ruling stop's carriers from blocking "Third party apps" from unlocking tethering capabilities. Apple does not allow third party apps to unlock tethering capability on your iDevices.
What Apple does not know wont hurt them ;P I was more concerned with the carrier my device is connected to
Not unless there is a 4g iOS device on the market we don't know about. This ruling is only for the 4G spectrum. Verizon can still do as it pleases with 3g and under.
Note--this was on vanilla handsets, not rooted/flashed. So while providers cannot block the use of 3rd party apps, no doubt they can still play games should they suspect you are tethering against some contractual agreement.
What i don't understand is so long as I'm using the allotted amount of data in a month as allowed by my contract, what does it matter to my provider how I'm using it? i.e., instead of writing emails on my crappy phone interface, why not open up a wifi hotspot and write emails on my (slightly better) tablet interface? Or my laptop? The data impact is essentially zero (okay, not exactly, but to the extent of practicality, it's zero). So who cares how I use the data? Oh, that's right, because providers are also trying to get you to buy their hotspot packages, external from your phone contracts...
Hopefully the FCC will take care of AT&T as well.... $50 data connect, ppsshh for WHAT?!
Granted, Verizon and others provide the technology to use this public good... They probably suspected this was coming though, since they stopped providing unlimited data a long time ago. With data caps and their new data based plans the structure is already in place to make it irrelevant how you use the bandwidth. It's all metered. Selfishly, I hope they need to honor their old plans that provide unlimited data.
A lot of people will be following in my footsteps and dialing 611 to terminate their mobile hotspot. I hope this also puts an end to having to pay for WiFi at nice hotels and airports. The next thing I would like is to be able to use our phones while we fly... I lump airlines in the same category as phone companies so I'm not waiting.
because they can, it was written into thier fcc bands htey could pretty much get away with anything they anted. 4g is going to obviously change that as it gave the fcc some teeth here's hopping they keep enforcing it.
all the telecoms want to make as much money while reinvesting as little as possible into thier networks hence the limited data or paying across multiple platforms for full function of a device.. and they will fight very chance they can to make you pay even more money. more companies equals more competition... I for one am rediculously happy our g'ment said no to at&t buying t mobile. remember a while back when alltell got bought by verizon all telecoms upped prices... yea that would happen again
Why should anyone have to pay an additional charge to tether their phone??? It's using the same data the phone would use!!
I f-ing hate cell phone carriers.
Their argument is that a computer uses significantly more data to display things. The content they display is in a full format (not mobile mode) and the uses become endless. (Online gaming etc).
Sure, your computer connection uses more data than a phone connection (full webpages vs. "mobile" webpages). But the problem is that companies charge users JUST FOR THE CAPABILITY to tether--data usage is separate from that. THAT'S the important issue. If I have a data allotment from my provider and I never exceed my data allotment from my provider, what difference does it make how I use it? Whether only on my phone, or if I wifi tether devices?
I guess I'm pwnd since I have a 3g phone and if I get a new phone I lose the unlimited...back to square one.