Free Press complains to the FCC about Verizon tethering

In the war to control access to services over wireless networks, the Free Press, a consumer group, has filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission because Verizon has reportedly asked Google to disable tethering on Android devices.

Tethering applications allow users to turn their phones into mobile hotspots, a feature operators tend to charge extra for. In the complaint, the Free Press argues that Verizon violates some of the open access provisions it agreed to when it bought its 700 MHz spectrum in 2008. Note that only the 700 MHz spectrum that Verizon is using for LTE will be affected by the open access rules.