Internet and wireless providers will waive late fees and keep Americans connected

Broadband and wireless companies are signing a "Keep Americans Connected Pledge" at the request of Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai, to ensure customers in the US aren't cut off from communications services during the coronavirus pandemic.

Pai said in a release Friday that he talked with broadband service providers and trade associations on Thursday and asked them to agree to three major terms to "ensure that Americans do not lose their broadband or telephone connectivity as a result of these exceptional circumstances." On Friday, 69 companies had signed the pledge, and an additional 116 signed on by Monday, Pai said in an additional statement, bringing the total to 185.

Providers are being asked to abide by the pledge for at least the next 60 days. The terms are as follows.

(1) Companies will "not terminate service to any residential or small business customers because of their inability to pay their bills due to the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic,  

(2) "waive any late fees that any residential or small business customers incur because of their economic circumstances related to the coronavirus pandemic, and  

(3) "open ... Wi-Fi hotspots to any American who needs them." 

"As the coronavirus outbreak spreads and causes a series of disruptions to the economic, educational, medical, and civic life of our country, it is imperative that Americans stay connected," Pai said in the statement. "Broadband will enable them to communicate with their loved ones and doctors, telework, ensure their children can engage in remote learning, and -- importantly -- take part in the 'social distancing' that will be so critical to limiting the spread of this novel coronavirus."  

Pai also said that the FCC will continue to talk to broadband companies about possible strains on their networks due to increased usage, as many people telecommute for work and school children try to access instruction remotely. 

The pledge comes as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the US explodes, resulting in schools closing and companies across the country asking employees to work remotely. As a result, Americans nationwide will be relying on their broadband connections to stay connected to schools, workplaces and medical professionals. 

Shortly after the announcement, Verizon announced it would follow the pledge and waive late fees. AT&T followed suit. On Sunday, the FCC announced it had granted T-Mobile temporary permission to use additional spectrum in the 600 MHz band to help it meet increased customer demand for broadband during the coronavirus pandemic. The FCC then granted AT&T and Verizon access to the AWS-3 spectrum on March 20.

Earlier this week, Democrats on the FCC expressed their concern that the FCC needed to do something to ensure that Americans stay connected to broadband and to help get those who may not have access to high speed internet get connected. 

Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said the broadband and wireless carriers' pledge was a "welcome first step." 

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"We know that more Americans than ever before will need internet access for work, education and health care," she said.  "We also know that this crisis will expose hard truths about the scope of the digital divide."  

But the FCC needs to do more, she said. Specifically, she's asking the agency to take these additional steps:

• Use universal service power to provide hotspots for loan to students whose schools have closed. 
• Connect hospitals and patients just like the FCC did in the wake of Hurricane Katrina by working with health care providers to "ensure connectivity for telehealth services are available for hospitals, doctors, and nurses treating coronavirus patients and those who are quarantined."
• Expand the pledges broadband and wireless companies are making and adjust FCC programs so that even more Americans can get online during this crisis at little or no cost.  
• Eliminate data caps and overage fees where they apply. 

On Thursday Comcast and AT&T were the first internet providers to announce that they would be extending data caps for their services. 

The FCC listed the following companies and industry associations that have taken the pledge. 

Companies

• ACIRA -- Powered by Farmers Mutual Telephone Company & Federated Telephone
• Advanced Communications Technology
• Agri-Valley Communications
• Alaska Communications
• Allstream Business US
• AlticeUSA
• Antietam Broadband
• Appalachian Wireless
• AT&T
• Atlantic Broadband
• ATMC
• BBT
• Ben Lomand Connect
• BEVCOMM
• Blackfoot Communications
• Blanchard Telephone Company
• Bledsoe Telephone Cooperative
• Bloomingdale Communications
• Blue Valley Tele-Communications
• BOYCOM Vision
• Bristol Bay Telephone Cooperative
• Bruce Telephone Company
  
• Burlington Telecom
  
• Bush-Tell
  
• C Spire
  
• Cable One
  
• Cap Rock Telephone Cooperative
  
• Cellcom
  
• Central Arkansas Telephone Cooperative
  
• CenturyLink, Charter
  
• Cincinnati Bell
  
• Citizens Connected
  
• Clear Lake Telephone Company
  
• Cochrane Co-op Telephone
  
• Comcast
  
• Consolidated Communications
  
• Coons Valley Farmers Telephone
  
• Copper Valley Telecom
  
• Cox Communications
  
• Cunningham Communications
  
• Cunningham Telephone Company
  
• D&P Communications
  
• Dallas Network Services
  
• Digital West
  
• DTC Communications
  
• Dubois Telephone Exchange
  
• EarthLink
  
• East Ascension Telephone Company
  
• Education Networks of America
  
• Emerald Broadband
  
• Emery Telecom
  
• Ethoplex
  
• Farmers Mutual Co-Op Phone Co
  
• Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative
  
• Fatbeam
  
• FirstLight
  
• Frontier
  
• Garden Valley Technologies
  
• GCI
  
• Golden West Telecommunications
  
• Google Fiber
  
• Grande Communications
  
• Granite State Communications
  
• Granite Telecommunications
  
• Great Plains Communications
  
• GRM Networks
  
• GWI
  
• Hancock Telephone Company
  
• Hargray Communications
  
• Hawaiian Telcom
  
• Hiawatha Broadband
  
• Hiawatha Telephone Company
  
• Highland Telephone Cooperative
  
• Hill Country
  
• Home Telecom
  
• Hotwire Communications
  
• Hughes
  
• IdeaTek Telcom
  
• Industry Telephone Company
  
• Inteliquent
  
• InterBel Telephone Company
  
• Interstate Telecommunications Cooperative
  
• KPU
  
• Lafourche Telephone Company
  
• Lakeland Communications
  
• Lennon Telephone Company
  
• Lincoln Telephone Company
  
• Long Lines Broadband
  
• LTC Networks
  
• Lynxx Networks
  
• Madison Telephone Company
  
• Mammoth Networks/Visionary Broadband
  
• Marquette-Adams Telephone Cooperative
  
• Matanuska Telephone Association
  
• Mediacom
  
• Merit Network
  
• MetTel
  
• Mid-Hudson Cable
  
• Midco
  
• Midstate Communications
  
• Midway Telephone Company
  
• Mosaic Telecom
  
• Mount Horeb Telephone Company
  
• Nelson Cable
  
• Nemont
  
• Nex-Tech
  
• NfinityLink Communications
  
• Ninestar Connect
  
• North Central Telephone Cooperative
  
• Northeast Nebraska Telephone Company
  
• Northern Telephone Cooperative
  
• Northwest Communications Cooperative
  
• Northwest Fiber
  
• Northwest Missouri Cellular
  
• Norvado
  
• Nsight Teleservices
  
• Ntec
  
• Nushagak Cooperative
  
• Ontonagon County Telephone Company
  
• Orbitel Communications
  
• Palmetto Rural Telephone Cooperative
  
• Peninsula Fiber Network
  
• Peoples Telephone Cooperative
  
• Pigeon Telephone Company
  
• Pine Belt Communications
  
• Pioneer Communications
  
• Polar Communications
  
• Portative Technologies
  
• Premier Communications
  
• Rainbow Communications
  
• Range Telephone Cooperative
  
• RCN
  
• Red River Communications
  
• Reserve Telephone Company
  
• Richland-Grant Telephone Cooperative
  
• RT Communications
  
• Sacred Wind Communications
  
• Sandhill Telephone Cooperative
  
• SCC Networks
  
• Segra/Lumos Networks
  
• Shawnee Communications
  
• Silver Star Communications
  
• Sirentel
  
• Sjoberg's
  
• Skyline Membership Cooperative
  
• Socket Telecom
  
• Solarus
  
• Sonic
  
• Sprint
  
• SRT Communications
  
• Starry
  
• STRATA Networks
  
• T-Mobile
  
• TCT
  
• TDS Telecom
  
• TelNet Worldwide
  
• Thumb Cellular
  
• Totelcom
  
• TOWARDEX
  
• TracFone Wireless
  
• Tri-County Communications Cooperative
  
• TrioTel Communications
  
• Twin Lakes
  
• Uniti Fiber
  
• US Cellular
  
• Vast Broadband
  
• Verizon
  
• Viaero Wireless
  
• Viasat
  
• Vyve Broadband Investments
  
• Wabash Communications CO-OP
  
• Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom
  
• Wander Internet
  
• Wave Broadband
  
• Wave Wireless
  
• Wavelinc Communications
  
• Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association
  
• West Carolina Rural Telephone Cooperative
  
• West Kentucky and Tennessee Telephone Cooperative
  
• West River Telecom
  
• West Telecom Services
  
• Windstream
  
• WorldNet Telecommunications
  
• ZenFi Networks
  

Trade associations

• ACA Connects
• Competitive Carriers of America
• CTIA
• INCOMPAS
• NCTA -- The Internet and Television Association
• TIA -- Telecommunications Industry Association
• The Rural Broadband Association
• US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation
• USTelecom
• WISPA 

Responses to pledge

Verizon
"Now more than ever, we need to ensure that our customers, their families and businesses have the ability to connect to the internet even if they're facing financial hardship from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic," said Hans Vestberg, Verizon chairman and CEO.  "We want to ensure that our customers can continue to use the internet to work, learn, and carry on with their lives as we all address this collective challenge. We're confident this joint effort will help make that happen."

NCTA
"We are confronting an unparalleled global public health crisis," said NCTA President Michael Powell. "This is a moment that calls for society to work together and for every business and organization to do what it can to help mitigate the dangerous effects of COVID-19 and the risk it presents to our citizens. Social distancing has become an essential part of that response, which is leading to millions of people -- by far more than typical -- working and learning from home. NCTA's member companies, America's broadband leaders which provide fast and reliable internet service to over 72 million homes and businesses, are working hard to ensure that our vital network connection to the internet remains robust and accessible."

INCOMPAS
"Rising to the challenge and meeting the moment; that is the message our small, competitive local broadband and communications service providers are sending today by joining the FCC pledge to "Keep Americans Connected" during the Coronovirus challenge," said INCOMPAS CEO Chip Pickering. "Without question, broadband is a critical, lifesaving service for our customers. Local providers serve schools, hospitals, health clinics, small businesses and families that depend on fast reliable internet access and communications services now more than ever." 

ACA Connects
"ACA Connects applauds FCC Chairman Ajit Pai for his vision and guidance at a time when the country is facing a global health crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic," said ACA President Matt Polka. "The challenges facing our country require a new level of teamwork between broadband service providers and government. We at ACA Connects endorse Chairman Pai's 'Keep Americans Connected' pledge, and we know that all ACA Connects members are committed to helping their communities stay strong amid so much uncertainty."

CCA
"CCA members care about the health and safety of their customers," said Steven K. Berry, president of the Competitive Carriers Association. "I thank Chairman Pai and the Commissioners for their commitment to ensuring consumers and small businesses maintain connectivity, through efforts like the Keep Americans Connected Pledge, as the nation weathers the coronavirus pandemic. The ability to connect with public safety, educational resources and family is absolutely critical during this time, and I thank the Commission for keeping the public interest top of mind. We will continue to work with the FCC, Administration, and Congress on this and other measures to address the pandemic crisis." 

CTIA
"The wireless industry applauds Chairman Pai and the Administration for taking important proactive steps to keep Americans connected," said CTIA President Meredith Attwell Baker. "We're committed to serving our customers and continuing to provide access to the world's most reliable wireless networks."

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