For Verizon‘s remaining unlimited data customers, it’s turned out that Verizon being required to offer free tethering—letting other devices share a 3G or 4G connection via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or USB—was too good to be true. According to Verizon, customers with unlimited data plans must still pay the $20 a month fee to Verizon before they can share their connection.

Debra Lewis, Verizon’s director of public relations, said in an e-mail that “The tethering fee charged by Verizon Wireless reflects the fact that customers who tether multiple devices may be expected to use more data than customers who do not. Under the terms of the unlimited data plans, customers are not limited in the amount of data they can use with a single device, but if they choose to tether additional devices they are required to pay an additional fee to account for the greater usage. Our service is called Mobile Broadband Connect.”

Verizon is no longer offering unlimited data plans. Instead, the giant carrier is now offering Share Everything plans that offer unlimited voice and text, but doesn’t offer unlimited data options. These plans do include free tethering.
Verizon: No free tethering for unlimited data plan customers. More >