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Verizon Reportedly Blocking Unofficial Tethering Software: Customers Redirected to $20 Tether Offer

Phillip Dampier August 9, 2011 Consumer News, Data Caps, Net Neutrality, Public Policy & Gov't, Verizon, Wireless Broadband No Comments

It’s Cell Company Customer Crackdown-month for AT&T and Verizon Wireless as the two carriers increasingly engage in aggressive “management” of their wireless data networks.  Days after AT&T announced it would throw customers off legacy unlimited data plans if caught using “unofficial” tethering applications, Verizon has reportedly locked out customers from accessing web pages over jailbreak apps like MyWi, redirecting requests to a Verizon Wireless $20 Mobile Hotspot offer instead.

Mobiledia reports Verizon now requires users have a hotspot-capable data plan if they want to tether data from their smartphones to other devices.  At regular prices, those plans start at $20 for 2GB of usage, with a $10/GB overlimit fee.  Certain LTE/4G customers have fared better, being offered unlimited tethering for $30 a month — an option not available to 3G phone owners.

The Federal Communications Commission’s Net Neutrality policy exempted wireless providers from observing its core principles, giving carriers carte blanche to block websites and third party applications from their networks, and Verizon has put the green light to good use.

AT&T has favored direct punitive measures against customers who don’t respond to their demands to upgrade by auto-enrolling customers in $45 tethering plans or threatening legacy customers with the loss of their unlimited data plan.

Some media reports — including those from Mobiledia — have declared third party tethering applications “illegal,” which is inaccurate.  While carriers may not like these applications and declare use of them contrary to their respective acceptable use policies, they do not violate any laws.

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