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Verizon officials were contrite and apologetic during a California State Assembly committee hearing that was convened Friday to examine mobile Internet throttling experienced by firefighters during recent blazes. "We all make mistakes from time to time, the true measure of leadership is how soon we admit it, own it," Rudy Reyes told the Select Committee on Natural Disaster, Response, Recovery, and Rebuilding after reading from a statement that the company released hours earlier.
In that statement, Verizon said it would be introducing a "new plan" with truly unlimited data and "priority access" for first responders nationwide. "As of yesterday, we removed all speed cap restrictions for first responders on the West Coast and in Hawaii to support current firefighting and Hurricane Lane efforts," the company said. "Further, in the event of another disaster, Verizon will lift restrictions on public safety customers, providing full network access."
The executives spoke shortly after hearing from Santa Clara County Fire Chief Tony Bowden who said that his agency had experienced similar throttling in December 2017. The Santa Clara department had tried to address it with the Verizon accounts manager at the time.
See also: Verizon stops throttling more firefighters, plans unlimited data "with no caps"
California State Assembly plans hearing on Verizon throttling of firefighters' data
Previously on SN: Verizon Throttled Fire Department's "Unlimited" Data During California Wildfire
(Score: 2) by Pslytely Psycho on Sunday August 26 2018, @06:44AM (1 child)
Just a guess, as I had not heard of such either, but maybe because it would burn through your home service plan? I somehow doubt it would be for a single number only.
Alex Jones lawyer inspires new TV series: CSI Moron Division.
(Score: 2) by RS3 on Monday August 27 2018, @12:35AM
Too lazy to run the numbers, but generally digitized voice is not much load. They (AT&T, etc.) started doing it in the 1960s. Too lazy to look it up but I'm pretty sure they used a 64Kbit / second "pipe" for each voice line, so only 8KB / S data rate. Yes, it adds up but hopefully people don't talk 24/7!
I was thinking (assuming) the aforementioned repeater was an RF repeater but needed an Internet connection, and EF is worried it's spying on him, and I don't blame him.
That said there are lots of IP phone options- I know someone who bought a "Magic Jack" years ago and used it and liked it. I think he moved it to some kind of google IP virtual phone or something. There's good old Vonage, etc...
Again, I haven't done a ton of research but here's one and I don't see an Ethernet / Internet connection: https://www.ebay.com/itm/850-1900MHz-2G-3G-4G-Cell-Phone-Signal-Booster-Mobile-Repeater-Kit-AT-T-Verizon-/153052585429 [ebay.com]
I'm not sure if these pass GSM/CDMA/LTE data- some say "voice only". Maybe the one the EF's provider has does RF for voice, and Internet connection for data... at which point you'd use WiFi... More research needed...