Why is Verizon charging for hotspot after FCC ruling?

[WantNexus5]

Do I misunderstand the FCC ruling that forbids Verizon from charging for hotspot functionality?

http://www.zdnet.com/let-my-wi-fi-go-fcc-rules-verizon-cant-charge-for-wi-fi-tethering-7000001916/

I got my new Moto X phone today (love it) and tried to turn on Hotspot. No go with additional fee. Huh?

[rcschnoor · Accepted solution]

If you are on the Share Everything plan, there is not additional cost for the hotspot.

[ParnellWalker73]

I'm not sure either but thanks a tons for the info.  Verizon seems to do a lot of things that are against the law.  I'll make sure I pass the word.  You may want to file a complaint with BBB.  I did on another matter.

[dimap52]

Apparently the FCC ruling only pertains to third-party tethering  apps that Verizon was  blocking from  the play store. It does not mandate Verizon to allow older plans to offer it  free of charge.

It's  my  opinion  that carriers   should not charge  for it on capped plans. Carriers in  other countries don't.

[WantNexus5]

No, I don't think it's limited to 3'rd party apps. If you're buying their 4G LTE, they have to allow hotspot tethering. From the horse's mouth:

http://www.fcc.gov/document/verizon-wireless-pay-125-million-settle-investigation

The ending para sums it rather clearly to me:

"In addition, the company recently revised its service offerings such that consumers on usage-based

pricing plans may tether, using any application, without paying an additional fee."

That's me - a "usage-based" pricing plan.

[NexusMan21]

The customers that still have unlimited data must pay to use mobile hotspot. If you have a limited data plan, tethering is included. That is the distinction.

[WantNexus5]

That's just it - I do not have an unlimited plan. 2GB per month, on 4G - and they're trying to charge me $20 per month for hotspot. That seems to be a direct violation of their agreement with the FCC.

[WantNexus5]

To clarify: I do not have an unlimited plan that was grandfathered in. I have the 2GB/month plan. I got that plan two years ago when I first joined Verizon. Yes, Verizon has a "Share Everything" plan that includes hotspot, however, the FCC ruling does not limit hotspot usage to certain plans. If you do not have an unlimited plan, and are using 4G, Verizon cannot charge you that $20/month.

[rcschnoor]

It would appear that this IS NOT the case as people have been reporting this discrepancy to the FCC for over a year now. One would think that IF Verizon was not adhering to the ruling, the FCC would have taken action.

Possibly old, retired plans would fall into those "narrow exceptions"?

"Specifically, 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,” subject to narrow exceptions."

Your link does not list what those exceptions are.

I think that the bottom line is that the excerpt you have listed above, "In addition, the company recently revised its service offerings such that consumers on usage-based pricing plans may tether, using any application, without paying an additional fee", mentions Verizon's service offerings on usage-based pricing plans. Unfortunately, you are on a retired plan which is NO LONGER one of Verizon's service offerings, possibly excluding it from the ruling.

It would be my guess that is how Verizon is justifying their policy to the FCC.

[WantNexus5]

Agreed, without being able to read the source document, we're all speculating.

I did get a call from someone at Verizon yesterday (Chauncey), and to his credit, they were very helpful and spent almost 30 minutes talking to me. I can't say I agree with their position, but reasonable people can disagree without consternation.

There were perceived complications with the current Share plan, but Chauncey addressed my concerns (primarily expense report handling) and I'm satisfied. I'll be switching over to the Share plan on 12/8 and that will solve the hotspot issue.

Cheers & beers.