If you’ve got a wireless PC card from Verizon and are on their “Unlimited Access” plan, you might be surprised to learn what isn’t permitted. Gaming for example, is not permitted. Neither is YouTube. Or “redirecting television signals for viewing on laptops.” In fact, your unlimited access is limited to 5GB a month, which you may only use for internet browsing email and “intranet access.” From Verizon’s TOS:

Unlimited Data Plans and Features (such as NationalAccess, BroadbandAccess, Push to Talk, and certain VZEmail services) may ONLY be used with wireless devices for the following purposes:
(i) Internet browsing;
(ii) email; and
(iii) intranet access (including access to corporate intranets, email, and individual productivity applications like customer relationship management, sales force, and field service automation). The Unlimited Data Plans and Features MAY NOT be used for any other purpose.

More TOS fun inside!

Verizon continues:

Examples of prohibited uses include, without limitation, the following: (i) continuous uploading, downloading or streaming of audio or video programming or games; (ii) server devices or host computer applications, including, but not limited to, Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, automated machine-to-machine connections or peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing; or (iii) as a substitute or backup for private lines or dedicated data connections. This means, by way of example only, that checking email, surfing the Internet, downloading legally acquired songs, and/or visiting corporate intranets is permitted, but downloading movies using P2P file sharing services and/or redirecting television signals for viewing on laptops is prohibited. A person engaged in prohibited uses, continuously for one hour, could typically use 100 to 200 MBs, or, if engaged in prohibited uses for 10 hours a day, 7 days a week, could use more than 5 GBs in a month.

For individual use only and not for resale. We reserve the right to protect our network from harm, which may impact legitimate data flows. We reserve the right to limit throughput or amount of data transferred, and to deny or terminate service, without notice, to anyone we believe is using an Unlimited Data Plan or Feature in any manner prohibited above or whose usage adversely impacts our network or service levels. Anyone using more than 5 GB per line in a given month is presumed to be using the service in a manner prohibited above, and we reserve the right to immediately terminate the service of any such person without notice. We also reserve the right to terminate service upon expiration of Customer Agreement term.

You heard them, use more than 5GB per month and they will “immediately terminate” your service “without notice.” You know, if you’re going to sell an “unlimited access” plan, shouldn’t it not limit your access?

We had toyed around with getting one of these cards, but what if we decide to watch a baseball game? Or use Skype? Or listen to NPR? For $79.99 a month we would likely want to do some of those things.—MEGHANN MARCO

Broadband Access [Verizon via Torrent Freak]

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