NARUC President Urges FCC to Lift Wireless Data Caps, End Overage Fees
The FCC should require wireless carriers to lift data caps and drop data overage charges on wireless plans due to the novel coronavirus, NARUC President Brandon Presley said Wednesday. Telecom companies should “work proactively with communities to ensure that students…
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left out of school are not left behind academically.” The COVID-19 pandemic “heightened attention to the digital divide that exists in many communities,” he said. Presley praised NARUC members for acting to stop service disconnections (see 2003170005, 2003160035 and 2003130065). FCC Chairman Ajit Pai “has already exhorted companies with low-income broadband programs like Connect2Compete to expand and improve them (for example, by increasing speeds to 25/3 Mbps and expanding eligibility) and those without to adopt such programs,” a spokesperson emailed. “He also called on broadband providers to relax their data cap policies in appropriate circumstances, on telephone carriers to waive long-distance and overage fees in appropriate circumstances, on those that serve schools and libraries to work with them on remote learning opportunities, and on all network operators to prioritize the connectivity needs of hospitals and healthcare providers.” Presley and fellow Mississippi Public Service Commission members separately urged unlimited mobile and satellite data in a Tuesday letter to the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association, and in an identical letter that day to CTIA. The wireless industry is “focused on keeping Americans connected, and our members have taken significant and innovative steps to meet that challenge," said CTIA Senior Vice President-External and State Affairs Jamie Hastings. SBCA didn’t comment.