Verizon says it eliminated all web velocity cap restrictions for first responders on West Coast

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A nationwide telecommunications firm that slowed web service to firefighters as they battled the most important wildfire in California historical past says it has eliminated all velocity cap restrictions for first responders on the West Coast.  Verizon Senior Vice President Mike Maiorana mentioned the service restrictions have been eliminated as of Thursday and embrace Hawaii, the place emergency crews have rescued individuals from areas flooded by Hurricane Lane. 

Any longer, Verizon will raise restrictions and supply full community entry to first responders throughout disasters, Maiorana mentioned.

The Santa Clara County Hearth Division mentioned in a lawsuit that Verizon slowed its web communications at a Northern California wildfire command middle three weeks in the past. 

Verizon’s motion “severely interfered with the [fire crew’s] potential to operate successfully” through the Mendocino Complicated hearth, Santa Clara County hearth chief Anthony Bowden mentioned in a authorized submitting.   

In a press release to CBS Information earlier this week, Verizon mentioned the throttling had “nothing to do with internet neutrality or the present continuing in court docket.” As an alternative, the telecom firm blamed “a mistake in how we communicated with our buyer in regards to the phrases of its plan.” It added that it has a coverage of eradicating knowledge velocity restrictions in emergency conditions.

“On this state of affairs, we should always have lifted the velocity restriction when our buyer reached out to us. This was a buyer assist mistake. We’re reviewing the state of affairs and can repair any points going ahead,” it mentioned.

California lawmakers are holding an informational listening to Friday on the state Capitol to debate what occurred.