Verizon Wireless signed a consent decree agreeing to pay $1.25...
Verizon Wireless signed a consent decree agreeing to pay $1.25 million for violations of the FCC’s 700 MHz C-block open access rules, which requires C block licensees to allow customers to freely use the devices and applications of their choosing,…
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the Enforcement Bureau said in a news release. Verizon Wireless bought the six 22 MHz regional C-block licenses covering the continental U.S. and the license for Hawaii for $9.63 billion in the 2008 auction. The FCC “launched an investigation after reports suggested that Verizon Wireless had successfully requested that a major application store operator block Verizon’s customers from accessing tethering applications from its online market,” which led to a consumer complaint, the agency said (http://xrl.us/bniv9q). “Under the terms of today’s settlement, Verizon Wireless will make a voluntary payment to the Treasury in the amount of $1.25 million, and has committed to notifying the application store operator that it no longer objects to the availability of the tethering applications to C-Block network customers in the operator’s online market.” The action “demonstrates that compliance with FCC obligations is not optional,” said Chairman Julius Genachowski. “The open device and application obligations were core conditions when Verizon purchased the C-block spectrum.” Verizon Wireless “provides our customers with the most advanced wireless broadband services available over our next-generation 4G LTE network,” the carrier said in response. “We have made clear to our customers that when using our services, they can go where they want and do what they want on the Internet, using the lawful applications and devices of their choice. Verizon Wireless has always allowed its customers to use the lawful applications of their choice on its networks, and it did not block its customers from using third-party tethering applications. This consent decree puts behind us concerns related to an employee’s communication with an app store operator about tethering applications, and allows us to focus on serving our customers."