What about AT&T? Will the FCC force them to stop charging too, or is there some reason why it's different?
It seems like the ruling was based off of particular regulations for the 4G (LTE) spectrum. I have a feeling it would not apply to 3G spectrum.
Let my Wi-Fi go: FCC rules Verizon can't charge for Wi-Fi tethering
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Re: Let my Wi-Fi go: FCC rules Verizon can't charge for Wi-Fi tethering
#12Does this mean that they can simply charge more for the base fee instead?
Re: Let my Wi-Fi go: FCC rules Verizon can't charge for Wi-Fi tethering
#13In particular, it could mean customers who would never use tethering wind up paying incrementally more, because all plans now include that capability, and Verizon still has sufficient pricing power make up the loss from tethering fees with other incremental fee increases.
Re: Let my Wi-Fi go: FCC rules Verizon can't charge for Wi-Fi tethering
#14Does this mean that they can simply charge more for the base fee instead?
Re: Let my Wi-Fi go: FCC rules Verizon can't charge for Wi-Fi tethering
#15Does this mean that they can simply charge more for the base fee instead?
Re: Let my Wi-Fi go: FCC rules Verizon can't charge for Wi-Fi tethering
#16But I know how to solve this. Someone needs to become the defacto wireless network that focuses on the network (reliability, bandwidth) and doesn't deal with consumers. Instead they resell to companies who deal with consumers.
Wonder if I could do a KS campaign...
Re: Let my Wi-Fi go: FCC rules Verizon can't charge for Wi-Fi tethering
#17This is the sort of price/service regulation that superficially appears beneficial to consumers... but might not be pro-consumer in its total effects. In particular, it could mean customers who would never use tethering wind up paying incrementally more, because all plans now include that capability, and Verizon still has sufficient pricing power make up the loss from tethering fees with other incremental fee increas…
To give you a perspective: Tethering is available in India with every single connection. You just need a supporting phone (USB or WiFi). The plans are all capped there but so are most plans here. You guys seriously have to wake up and realise that you are severely restricted on everything from which phones you can buy to how you use your phone and what apps are installed. I mean, seriously!
Re: Let my Wi-Fi go: FCC rules Verizon can't charge for Wi-Fi tethering
#18This is the sort of price/service regulation that superficially appears beneficial to consumers... but might not be pro-consumer in its total effects. In particular, it could mean customers who would never use tethering wind up paying incrementally more, because all plans now include that capability, and Verizon still has sufficient pricing power make up the loss from tethering fees with other incremental fee increas…
Re: Let my Wi-Fi go: FCC rules Verizon can't charge for Wi-Fi tethering
#19This is the sort of price/service regulation that superficially appears beneficial to consumers... but might not be pro-consumer in its total effects. In particular, it could mean customers who would never use tethering wind up paying incrementally more, because all plans now include that capability, and Verizon still has sufficient pricing power make up the loss from tethering fees with other incremental fee increas…
But if you have usage-based pricing (which Verizon does), it doesn't matter whether that 4GB originates from an iPhone or a MBP. A packet is a packet and it costs the same to route.
I suppose you could argue that Verizon incurs some additional support burden for tethering. I question whether or not this support burden outweighs the costs of supporting people who call in expecting to be able to tether now.