Maybe I've misunderstood what you're asking, and apologies if I have, but isn't that a bit like asking if there's a workaround so you don't have to pay for calls?
If you use data on your phone or through your phone, you have to pay whatever your phone network operator asks for it, on whatever terms they dictate. If you don't like those terms, switch to another operator.
You will probably have to pay for some kind of data plan. Some of the older Sprint phones worked with just the standard cheap data plan, but nowadays expect to pay for tethering.
Maybe I've misunderstood what you're asking, and apologies if I have, but isn't that a bit like asking if there's a workaround so you don't have to pay for calls?
If you use data on your phone or through your phone, you have to pay whatever your phone network operator asks for it, on whatever terms they dictate. If you don't like those terms, switch to another operator.
Apologies accepted. What I'm asking is if there's a way to use my minutes only, and not data.
USCellular does not have "tethering" like Verizon has. It's just a $25/month data plan, and I don't really feel it's worth that.