Verizon: Throttling firefighters and net neutrality are ‘very unrelated,’ not everyone agrees
Verizon testified before a
Verizon's actions have rekindled the national debate over net neutrality rules overturned by the Trump administration late last year. Those rules are intended to force broadband companies to give all customers comparable service, and many critics have insisted they would have protected firefighters' internet access.
But during the hearing, Verizon representatives said the throttling was caused by a "process operational error," in which an employee failed to turn off the data speed caps as requested by the fire department. But Verizon insisted the data caps -- which were a feature of the department's low-cost data plan -- have no link to net neutrality.
"It's apples and oranges," said
Assemblymember
Not everyone agrees.
California Professional Firefighters threw their support Friday behind the pro-net neutrality bill in the
"By implementing net neutrality, SB 822 will help prevent internet service providers from throttling, thereby preventing data speeds to be manipulated and, in turn, avoid crippling, or worse, deadly outcomes," said the CPF in a statement on Friday.
Wheeler added in an interview with this news organization Friday that throttling was definitely an issue addressed under the net neutrality rules he wrote.
"What we did was specifically put in the rule about the ability to review activities," Wheeler said. "We called it the general conduct rule. It was based on the concept that you never really know what technology is going to do next, what the marketplace is going to do next. In this era of rapid change, you want to have flexibility to respond to new situations."
Lawmakers in
"It is unacceptable for communications providers to deceive their customers, 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," read Eshoo and Pelosi's letter. "The
Before answering questions from the
Verizon will allow public safety workers, such as firefighters, police officers and Emergency Medical Services personnel -- as well as the federal justice agencies, including the FBI, CIA and
Erwin added that the new plan had been in development for more than eight months.
"This is not a reaction to
"With my staff, I would rather keep my head down than speak publicly," said Bowden. "I really truly hope there is a greater partnership (with cellular providers) where this does not happen with any public agency."
In his testimony, Bowden said the Mendocino Complex Fire was the third time since
After the second throttling experience at the Pawnee Fire in
In the meantime, the dispatched firefighters used wifi hotspots from adjacent units and had routing devices shipped to their base camp overnight to keep internet connectivity.
The fire department use both Verizon and
Coffee Break
"The thing about public safety is it is very difficult to predict when it's going to happen," said Bowden. "There are down times and there are huge spikes when it comes to data. ... We are a medium-sized department, and we don't have unlimited funds."
Staff writer
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