You know that this article is a lie in the second sentence:
"While Verizon Wireless is set to push out the latest version of the Android operating system to Droid users starting this week".
You just did what they wanted you to do, post a link to their article on a popular forum.
That is what these articles are doing, they are trying to provide some shocking rumor so that everyone will show it to all their friends.
By the way why would verizon ever offer free tethering?
I am sure that they already have tens of thousands of people paying them monthly for it why would they all of the sudden say here it is for free.
Maybe when they stop being the most popular provider in the nation.
Anyway, this is way better:
PdaNet free edition by June Fabrics Technology Inc. - doubleTwist Android Market