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Verizon Throttled Fire Department's 'Unlimited' Data During Calif. Wildfire (arstechnica.com)
Verizon Wireless's throttling of a fire department that uses its data services has been submitted as evidence in a lawsuit that seeks to reinstate federal net neutrality rules. From a report: "County Fire has experienced throttling by its ISP, Verizon," Santa Clara County Fire Chief Anthony Bowden wrote in a declaration. "This throttling has had a significant impact on our ability to provide emergency services. Verizon imposed these limitations despite being informed that throttling was actively impeding County Fire's ability to provide crisis-response and essential emergency services." Bowden's declaration was submitted in an addendum to a brief filed by 22 state attorneys general, the District of Columbia, Santa Clara County, Santa Clara County Central Fire Protection District, and the California Public Utilities Commission. The government agencies are seeking to overturn the recent repeal of net neutrality rules in a lawsuit they filed against the Federal Communications Commission in the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
"The Internet has become an essential tool in providing fire and emergency response, particularly for events like large fires which require the rapid deployment and organization of thousands of personnel and hundreds of fire engines, aircraft, and bulldozers," Bowden wrote. Santa Clara Fire paid Verizon for "unlimited" data but suffered from heavy throttling until the department paid Verizon more, according to Bowden's declaration and emails between the fire department and Verizon that were submitted as evidence.
"The Internet has become an essential tool in providing fire and emergency response, particularly for events like large fires which require the rapid deployment and organization of thousands of personnel and hundreds of fire engines, aircraft, and bulldozers," Bowden wrote. Santa Clara Fire paid Verizon for "unlimited" data but suffered from heavy throttling until the department paid Verizon more, according to Bowden's declaration and emails between the fire department and Verizon that were submitted as evidence.
Exactly just because live's are at risk doesn't mean that gouging the maximum possible profit is wrong.
*froth froth * Venezuela *froth froth * gay wedding cakes *froth froth* death panels*.
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cayenne8
s/Verizon building/Verizon executive's home/
No, that 's not mean and vindictive. Nothing prevents them switching to an alternative firefighting provider.
Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
Exactly just because live's are at risk doesn't mean that gouging the maximum possible profit is wrong.
*froth froth * Venezuela *froth froth * gay wedding cakes *froth froth* death panels*.
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cayenne8
Thank you! This making excuses for Leftist Progressive agendas is getting tiresome. The fact is that a business has the right to make a profit by any means possible - that is the Capitalist system.
If the Fire Department didn't pay for the service they require then they don't deserve any better. And as the Terms and Conditions state, Verizon can change the Terms and Conditions any time they want to. So, if the fire department needs more bandwidth during an emergency - even if they paid for it, then Verizon has the perfect right to throttle or demand more money.
That's Capitalism!
I'm tired of all the Progressives and Leftists making excuses and forcing their agenda on businesses who are struggling to to keep people employed overseas, boost their bottom line and give their CEO's a decent eight to nine figure compensation package!
If the Progressives and Leftists would stop their whining about protecting human health and well being, we'd all be better off!
It would have been extremely amusing if some major Verizon owned facilities had then been lost to the fires before the fire department could pay Verizon more to be unthrottled...
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"Due to not being able to communicate with the guys delivering more water, we had to severely throttle our water bandwidth right after saving all the sprint and T-Mobile towers. I'm afraid all the Verizon ones burned down."
I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?