Verizon is now also cracking down on "unlimited" consumers who used their unlimited data SIM cards in LTE routers. Last week we reported how Verizon was taking aim at the company's remaining, unlimited grandfathered customers, pushing them to shared data plans or kicking them off the network entirely if they consumed more than 100 GB of data.

"These users are using data amounts well in excess of our largest plan size (100 GB)," Verizon told me last week. "While the Verizon Plan at 100 GB is designed to be shared across multiple users, each line receiving notification to move to the new Verizon Plan is using well in excess of that on a single device."

But users over at Howard Forum note that Verizon is also now blocking users who get unlimited data via LTE routers. According to the users (most of them using the Novatel / Verizon T1114), they've been receiving notifications saying they're using too much data and having their access blocked. Many of these users who contact Verizon are told by company reps they don't know why access is being blocked.

I've dropped a line to Verizon for more information.

Many of the users are specifically annoyed, saying Verizon is violating conditions attached to the company's 700 MHz spectrum. These "carterfone" protections are supposed to ensure that consumers can attach any certified device to the Verizon Wireless network without interference, but as we noted back when the rules were passed there's more than a few loopholes that give Verizon ample wiggle room when adhering to them.

Note there's not all that many unlimited customers left on Verizon's network, as the company has been hugely successful in driving them all to metered plans. A study from 2014 found that just 22% of Verizon users remained on grandfathered unlimited plans, compared to 44% for AT&T and 78% for both Sprint and T-Mobile (who both advertise unlimited as a differentiator). Verizon also leads at getting users to pay more: 51% of Verizon Wireless customers pay the company at least $100 per month, compared to 47% at Sprint, 46% at AT&T, and 33% at T-Mobile.