UPDATE FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said Monday that 116 more broadband and telephone service providers have taken his Keep Americans Connected Pledge. He launched the pledge on Friday with 69 broadband and telephone providers agreeing to take specific steps to help Americans stay connected for the next 60 days. Monday afternoon’s announcement means that 185 companies in total have now taken the pledge.
“It’s critical that Americans stay connected throughout the coronavirus pandemic so that they can remain in touch with loved ones, telework, engage in remote learning, participate in telehealth, and maintain the social distancing that is so important to combatting the spread of the virus,” said Pai. “The Keep Americans Connected Pledge is a critical step toward accomplishing that goal, and I thank each one of these additional companies that have made commitments to ensure that Americans can remain connected as a result of these exceptional circumstances.”
Additionally, the associations TIA—The Telecommunications Industry Association and the U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation have also endorsed the pledge.
The Keep Americans Connected Pledge reads as follows:
Given the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on American society, [company name] pledges for the next 60 days to:
(1) not terminate service to any residential or small business customers because of their inability to pay their bills due to the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic;
(2) waive any late fees that any residential or small business customers incur because of their economic circumstances related to the coronavirus pandemic; and
(3) open its WiFi hotspots to any American who needs them.
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