New iphone 5 + $70/month limited tiered 2gb/month plan = no hotspot ?? FCC rules violation?

Question

Hello all,
I got a new iphone 5 from the verizon store in michigan. I chose the $70/month plan with 450 minutes + 2gb/month data. So it is a LTE capable phone offered by Verizon on a limited tiered data plan.
Now according to the FCC decision, Verizon is not supposed to block hotspot tethering on this plan on a phone which uses the LTE spectrum. (details here: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-315501A1.pdf)
However, I am unable to enable the hotspot or tethering feature. When I try to enable personal hotspot, it shows a popup on the screen saying "contact verizon" by either going to the website or calling them.
This is contrary to the verizon obligations under the FCC requirements. I have written a letter to verizon but haven't heard back from them. Its obvious that the hotspot has not been provisioned on this account but why I don't know.
Is anyone else having the same problem? If so, did you get it resolved?
thanks,

Answer 1

Verizon has a very inconsistent business model regarding tethering. Tablets on a 2 Gig data plan CAN tether/hotspot but smartphones CAN'T. Tethering has always been borked on my 2 Gig plan, whether 3G or 4G. I think it's outrageous that you can put a ONE gig data plan (for FIFTY DOLLARS no less) on a Share Everything plan and tether, but NOT on a 2 Gig individual plan. I just upgraded my plan to 4 Gig to test the tethering and hotspot functions on my new Razr M and I'm delighted to find out all 3 tethering pipes (USB, WiFi, BlueTooth) work on my Linux box but as a matter of principle that I don't feel tethering is a service that carriers should have a LEGAL right to charge for, I won't be keeping it very long.
But Brian68 is right in that the FCC did NOT say Verizon couldn't charge for tethering although I strongly wish they had, particularly for usage-based data packages. So your only options are:
1 Switch to Share Everything Plan, Tethering is included, data allowances are the pits for what they charge, considering the line access fees.
2 Switch to 4 Gig data w/ Hotspot plan (extra $20 a month, maybe you can use the extra data, waste of money if you can't)
3 Call and b**ch like crazy, I've read somewhere that sometimes they will give you a $0 cost tethering SKU to shut you up, but I have no idea how effective that is.
Tethering fees are a total crock to me, especially when you are already paying for a capped amount of data, with tethering possibly pushing you into lucrative overage charges. Double dipping at it's worst. Makes me MAD like nothing else.