Verizon Wireless Fined by FCC for Blocking Tethering Apps on 4G Network

Earlier this week the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) fined Verizon Wireless $1.25 million for limiting its customers’ use of applications on its 4G network. In 2011, Free Press filed a formal complaint with the FCC against Verizon after reports indicated that Verizon had allegedly urged Google to remove some apps from its Android Market. These apps allowed Verizon subscribers to use tethering. Before these apps were available customers spent as much as $30 extra a month to tether.

Unhappy with these apps, Verizon told Google to block all tethering apps from its store. In its complaint last year, Free Press said that such requests from Verizon to Google violated the "no-blocking" rules Verizon agreed to when it acquired a chunk of spectrum for its 4G LTE network. Because Verizon agreed to keep its 4G network "open" when it acquired the spectrum, the company was in violation.

This week the FCC announced its decision, siding with Free Press on the issue and delivering a fine to Verizon.

Source: Free Press