Thank goodness for some sense around telecom companies. Finally!
Let my Wi-Fi go: FCC rules Verizon can't charge for Wi-Fi tethering
81–90 of 146 posts
Re: Let my Wi-Fi go: FCC rules Verizon can't charge for Wi-Fi tethering
#82Earlier quoted context omitted.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectrum_management http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frequency_allocation
My understanding is that the finite bandwidth of the spectrum puts a limit (for a given level of technology) on the total data capacity of the network, not on the number of service providers. Could we not have more providers for the same number of users by divvying the spectrum into more chunks? Instead, I think the number of providers is limited by the huge entry costs of building towers. It's the low marginal cost…
Entry is also limited by multi-billion dollar spectrum auctions. Evenid. Google couldnt win with their $pi B bid.
Re: Let my Wi-Fi go: FCC rules Verizon can't charge for Wi-Fi tethering
#83This is a no-brainer. As others have pointed out, this is a wholly artificial fee. You still have to pay for the data. They're just charging you for how you access the data. Basically it's extortion. Here's something that congress should do. Telecom companies are government-granted monopolies. Why not acknowledge that it's already not a free market situation and cap the profit margin that these companies are allowed…
They do it to segment their customers. A lot of us startups do it too when we offer one plan for $9 per month, another for $19 per month. The delta isn't necessarily because our costs are different, but rather because the value to the consumer is different. You could argue that cellular networks should only be allowed to be dumb pipes because they are a government-granted monopoly (of spectrum). That would put them i…
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Re: Let my Wi-Fi go: FCC rules Verizon can't charge for Wi-Fi tethering
#84Great. So now they'll just raise their data prices. Woohoo!
Re: Let my Wi-Fi go: FCC rules Verizon can't charge for Wi-Fi tethering
#85When I try to activate tethering on my Verizon Android, it's still telling me it wants the $30/month. I suppose it's a little soon for this change to already be implemented, but I'm sure ready!
What's a good iOS app for this?
Re: Let my Wi-Fi go: FCC rules Verizon can't charge for Wi-Fi tethering
#86In 2006, one Verizon store tried to charge me for tethering. Another confirmed that at that time, there was no extra ($19.99) charge for tethering.
I've been sent to credit agencies for bills I had paid on more than one occasion for the same paid bills and my accounts have been switched with other family members by Verizon on purpose taking over 20 calls and hours to resolve.
tl;dr: Verizon's service has always been shit. The FCC and our government need to step it up. Hard to do when you're in Verizon's pockets.
Re: Let my Wi-Fi go: FCC rules Verizon can't charge for Wi-Fi tethering
#87The most important reason why this is a no-brainer is because of the 700Mhz spectrum auction. The open device restriction (or lack of restrictions really) was a key provision that google pushed for. I'm sure some people are going to say the government is overstepping their authority, but in fact, they aren't. Verizon was overstepping their authority in this case. Everybody has google to thank for this.
I guess this is nice to see, but with Verizon's new data plans they are eager for you to use as much bandwidth as possible. Thankfully and at the moment there are carriers that provide unlimited data like Sprint. We need more of them!
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Re: Let my Wi-Fi go: FCC rules Verizon can't charge for Wi-Fi tethering
#88One small step for man... The next would be to somehow abolish the per-device data fee structure. We have seven iOS devices. Only three are actively online. Even at that, when at home, office or near wifi cellular data does not get used much if a all. Still, we have to pay 3x the cellular data monthly fee, which is insanity. I do understand the technical and business issues here, but this cuts both ways: I know that…
Do you also complain that your cable TV isn't used to capacity because you're not watching all channels 24 hours a day? It seems so peculiar that people complain that they're not using their internet account to saturation when they don't make the same complaint about other things.
I don't think this argument is analogous.
With a CATV subscription, you can hook up an essentially unlimited number of TVs. You could in theory watch every channel 24/7 for the same basic rate. The basic costs associated with cable are related to the infrastructure to bring the signal to your house, plus whatever licensing fees for content that are essentially passed through.
With Internet plans, we are charged repetitively for multiple devices, and in essence you are basically discouraged (throttling, excess usage fees) from actually using the service to 100% of the contracted rates over the billing period.
For example, I have on my account 2 iPhones with data plans (mine, wife's), 1 with tethering (mine), and 1 4G USB dongle. I went over the 5G limit on the dongle, but both of the basic data plans on the iPhones were under budget for the month, and I hardly used the tethering. Do you think I'll get a break from Verizon, or any kind of 'net usage' billing for the overage on the 4G dongle?
As others have pointed out in other threads, the mobile Internet space is ripe for disruption. It's not going to come from 2 college drop-outs on a $15,000 Y Combinator budget, but it's going to happen as soon as the economy lights up a little bit and we get some real infrastructure investment rolling.
Re: Let my Wi-Fi go: FCC rules Verizon can't charge for Wi-Fi tethering
#89I read the order and press release (http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2012... and http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2012...) , and I don't see how it says what zdnet claims. What it really says is:
1. They can't block devices that offer free tethering
2. They can't block free tethering applications
This doesn't say "they can't charge for wi-fi tethering".
Just that they can't stop others from offering it for free.
In fact, it specifically allows them to continue to charge folks on unlimited usage plans for tethering (though folks can terminate that plan without a termination fee)
The zdnet quote that says verizon no longer charges is just a note in the order.
Re: Let my Wi-Fi go: FCC rules Verizon can't charge for Wi-Fi tethering
#90Earlier quoted context omitted.
I guess this is nice to see, but with Verizon's new data plans they are eager for you to use as much bandwidth as possible. Thankfully and at the moment there are carriers that provide unlimited data like Sprint. We need more of them!
Doesn't Sprint charge for tethering too? (I currently have a Sprint plan. I'm pretty sure that it's unlimited data, but they don't allow tethering without paying extra fees or rooting your device.)
Yes, it's $29.99/month to enable the Sprint Hotspot. They disable the built-in tethering in Android and hide most tethering apps from the Play store.
That said, you can tether over USB or bluetooth with PdaNet or FoxFi without paying any fees or rooting the phone.