GETTING ONLINE
U.S. phone and cable companies say that they
won’t cut off home-internet and cellphone
service for people and small businesses that
are unable to pay because of the coronavirus
pandemic, which is causing workplace
shutdowns and layoffs. They’ll also waive late
fees and make their networks of Wi-Fi hotspots
available to the public.
The companies acted at the request of Federal
Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai,
who is also encouraging — but not requiring —
them to take further steps to make sure people
can stay connected to each other, their schools,
jobs and doctors as the country increasingly
shuts down.
He suggested that the internet service providers
increase and improve their low-cost internet
offerings for low-income people, relax their data
caps and try to help schools and libraries with
remote learning, for example.
FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, a
Democrat, has called on the FCC to do more
to help families whose children’s schools have
shut down, like beefing up a program that helps
schools loan Wi-Fi hotspots to kids stuck at
home. The AP has found that 3 million students
have no internet access at home.
Some companies are taking additional steps like
those Pai suggested. Cable companies Comcast
and Cox are boosting internet speeds on their
low-cost plans and offering one or two months
of free service for new low-income customers.
AT&T is waiving fees if people go over home-
internet data caps.