Slashdot Mirror
Facing 'Net Neutrality' Criticism, Verizon Suddenly Lifts Data Caps On All Public Safety Workers (siliconvalley.com)
An anonymous reader writes:
Verizon testified Friday before a California State Assembly committee about why its "throttling" of county firefighters was completely unrelated to net neutrality. Then they surprised everyone by announcing that they were lifting all data caps on public safety workers with unlimited data plans, including federal justice agencies like the FBI, CIA and Secret Service.
Verizon claimed this was completely unrelated to the fact that 13 California Congressmen are now demanding that the FTC investigate Verizon's throttling of firefighters battling California's 290,692-acre wildfire. "It is unacceptable for communications providers to deceive their customers," the Congressmen wrote, "but when the consumer in question is a government entity tasked with fire and emergency services, we can't afford to wait a moment longer."
Meanwhile, the California Professional Firefighters, which represents more than 30,000 firefighters and emergency personnel, came out in support of a strict new California law that restores net neutrality provisions, saying their group had "come to conclude that if net neutrality is not restored, the effect could be disastrous to the public's safety."
One county fire chief even testified this was the third time in eight months they've been throttled by Verizon.
Verizon claimed this was completely unrelated to the fact that 13 California Congressmen are now demanding that the FTC investigate Verizon's throttling of firefighters battling California's 290,692-acre wildfire. "It is unacceptable for communications providers to deceive their customers," the Congressmen wrote, "but when the consumer in question is a government entity tasked with fire and emergency services, we can't afford to wait a moment longer."
Meanwhile, the California Professional Firefighters, which represents more than 30,000 firefighters and emergency personnel, came out in support of a strict new California law that restores net neutrality provisions, saying their group had "come to conclude that if net neutrality is not restored, the effect could be disastrous to the public's safety."
One county fire chief even testified this was the third time in eight months they've been throttled by Verizon.
"It is unacceptable for communications providers to deceive their customers," the Congressmen wrote, "but when the consumer in question is a government entity tasked with fire and emergency services, we can't afford to wait a moment longer."
Yes we know, you should be ashamed that you deceived yoru citizen customers but HOW DARE you deceive the government or its entities!
Fun fact, had those millions of other "deceptions" been looked at by the government that cares so much we would not need something like this to get our attention. There is a reason why politicians do not really care that much about their voters.
Usage. This isn't a net neutrality issue at all. Local media outlets here picked up the story a few days ago. It wouldn't have any traction there if they couldn't use the term "net neutrality".
The reality of the situation is that the fire departments are solely responsible for ensuring that the equipment and services they require on their rigs are in place. In the case of SCCFD, they had the wrong goddamn plan and/or they failed to understand the terms of the plan. They were (are) public safety plans available from Verizon that exclude throttling. SCCFD did not purchase it. It's their responsibility as much as the hose on the truck is their responsibility.
Beware of the Leopard.
Something is a good idea for everyone?
Can't have that! We'll just put it in as a special carve-out for some group that people can't say NO to - such as teachers, firemen, police, etc. Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES do it for the average citizen on an equal and equitable basis.
. . .
Always ALWAYS vote against carve-outs. All you are doing is ensuring the general public doesn't get whatever it is.
--- Mercutio was right.
You really shouldn't get to advertise " Unlimited " plans, then ( via extra fine print on page 936 of the user agreement )
turn around and throttle the bandwidth into the ground so as to make the entire service completely useless. ( God forbid
you actually USE your " Unlimited " plan as unlimited. )
It's akin to being sold a Ferrari with all that horsepower available to it, but being forced to drive it like a Prius. :|
I also find it amusing that this is only an issue because it's Firefighters. ( Or any profession that the public is constantly :| )
reminded to refer to as " Heroic ". Don't get me started on that one.
Congress could give two shits about Verizon screwing over the general public every day with the very same policies, but if you do it to
$heroic_profession, ( or a Congress type ) all of a sudden it's a big fucking deal and everyone runs in little circles demanding answers.
Eh... I don't object to them providing firefighters, law enforcement, or other similar groups some kind of special consideration. Like if they find some way to prioritize those people when things are jammed up, that seems fine and reasonable.
But I think this event just highlights the fact that cell carriers and ISPs run their businesses as though they're providing entertainment services. They don't seem to recognize that they're providing vital telecommunication infrastructure. So often, the Internet gets treated like, "Oh that's just how people access Facebook and Netflix."
Volunteer firefighter and programmer.
I believe you and others have been decieved by Verizon.
Fire departments have a cap on monthly useage for normal emergency patterns and non emergency related internet use . IF we watch to much netflix, youtube, send to many emails.... WTFever then we are and should be capped.
But the momemnt we inform the ISP we have a public emergency usage requirement then the ISP is supposed to rip off that cap and give us everything we need until the emergency is over. I beleive that the fire department even mentioned that clause to the verizon rep and in their public information release.
It is effectively an insurance policy that Verizon failed to honor and instead they forced the fire department to pay more to get the service that was requireded
If our usege goes beyond our agreed upon service level agreement on a regular basis then the ISP is supposed to tell us we have to step up to another plan.....at the end of a 12 month cycle
the all the time unlimited plans that Verizon mentioned are for larger Fire Department that need unlimted all the time. Lower tier plans for smaller fire departments still have the public emergency use terms that give us unthrottled unlimited data during an emergency
But they have paid for it. Plan says "UNLIMITED".
It's crazy how we are so used to the word games now, unlimited actually means something different for every plan AND every provider, and we just accept it.
You are being ripped off every second of every day, so that advertisers can help rip you off even more tomorrow.