Like they said, most carriers charge that. Just find a used phone thats 15 dollars cheaper than what you want to pay. They just answered your question, you don't need to chew them out because someone answered you.

If your older phone doesn't work like it used to it is because older technology is illegal to activate now, analog is obsolete by any carriers standards. Just like if you don't buy a new TV you will not get channels once the government forces digital on broadcast companies.

Well when that happens and you do buy a new TV, whoever you are getting your TV signal from won't charge you for changing to a differant TV!
US Celllular switched from TDMA to CDMA so they should allow us to change to a CDMA phone without charging us.

us cellular changed to cdma a long time ago, your area just happens to be the last one changed. when cingular changed from tdma to gsm people had to pay for a new phone and their change fee, when they purchased AT&T those people have to get new phones and get on cingular plans. if it upsets you that much complain to us cellular customer service and if you are more distraught than angry and they can give you a 15 dollar credit. but it depends on how nice you are as well, nobody likes being yelled at when they are trying to help.

and if it is big problem for you, you can buy a v120c for 2 dollars on ebay.

your phone is probably really old anyways, get a new one, this phonescoop place seems to be a place for ppl who enjoy technology and phones and stuff like that, you do not seem too be that person if you cant fork out $15 or whatever, you should be happy and greatful that they are upgrading you.

What kind of phone did you have before? And why wouldn't you encourage changing to better system or network? I mean going to CDMA is not a bad thing it is by far a better system. The fee is in place becuase of the programing that it requires for you to change you phone, for the change of the esn and any other activities that it requires. Us Cell isn't punishing you.