| Notes |
Media Contact:
Tina Pelkey, (202) 418-0536
tina.pelkey@fcc.gov
For Immediate Release
CHAIRMAN PAI LAUNCHES THE
KEEP AMERICANS CONNECTED PLEDGE
Pai Calls on Broadband and Telephone Service Providers to Promote Connectivity for
Americans Impacted by the Disruptions Caused by the Coronavirus Pandemic
WASHINGTON, March 13, 2020—Yesterday, in multiple phone calls with broadband and
telephone service providers and trade associations, Federal Communications Commission
Chairman Ajit Pai emphasized the importance of keeping Americans connected as the country
experiences serious disruptions caused by the coronavirus outbreak. And in order to ensure
that Americans do not lose their broadband or telephone connectivity as a result of these
exceptional circumstances, he specifically asked them to take the Keep Americans Connected
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 Wi-Fi hotspots to any American who needs them.
Less than 24 hours after the Chairman’s calls, the following companies have already told
Chairman Pai that they are taking the Keep Americans Connected Pledge and will implement it
as soon as possible: ACIRA – Powered by Farmers Mutual Telephone Company & Federated
Telephone, Allstream Business US, AlticeUSA, Antietam Broadband, Atlantic Broadband,
AT&T, BBT, BOYCOM Vision, Burlington Telecom, Cable One, Central Arkansas Telephone
Cooperative, CenturyLink, Charter, Cincinnati Bell, Citizens Connected, Comcast,
Consolidated Communications, Cox Communications, Digital West, East Ascension
Telephone Company, Education Networks of America, Emery Telecom, Farmers
Telecommunications Cooperative, FirstLight, Frontier, Google Fiber, Grande
Communications, Granite Telecommunications, Great Plains Communications, GWI,
Hiawatha Broadband, Hill Country, IdeaTek Telcom, Inteliquent, Lafourche Telephone
Company, Lakeland Communications, Long Lines Broadband, Mammoth Networks/Visionary
Broadband, Mediacom, MetTel, Nex-Tech, Ninestar Connect, Northwest Fiber, Orbitel
Communications, Pioneer Communications, Premier Communications, Range Telephone
Cooperative, RCN, Reserve Telephone Company, Sacred Wind Communications, Shawnee
Communications, Socket Telecom, Sonic, Sprint, Starry, TDS Telecom, TelNet Worldwide, TMobile, TracFone Wireless, Uniti Fiber, US Cellular, Vast Broadband, Verizon, Vyve
Broadband Investments, Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom, Wave Broadband, West
Telecom Services, Windstream, and ZenFi Networks. And the trade associations ACA
Connects, Competitive Carriers of America, CTIA, INCOMPAS, NCTA—The Internet and
Television Association, NTCA—The Rural Broadband Association, USTelecom, and WISPA
have all endorsed the pledge.
“As the coronavirus outbreak spreads and causes a series of disruptions to the economic,
educational, medical, and civic life of our country, it is imperative that Americans stay
connected. Broadband will enable them to communicate with their loved ones and doctors,
telework, ensure their children can engage in remote learning, and—importantly—take part in
the ‘social distancing’ that will be so critical to limiting the spread of this novel coronavirus,”
said Chairman Pai. “That’s why I’m asking all broadband and telephone service providers to
take the Keep Americans Connected Pledge. I don’t want any American consumers
experiencing hardships because of the pandemic to lose connectivity.
“I applaud those companies that have already taken the Keep Americans Connected Pledge.
They are stepping up to the plate and taking critical steps that will make it easier for Americans
to stay connected during this pandemic and maintain much-needed social distancing. I urge
other companies to join them. This may be a difficult time for our nation, but if we all work
together, I am confident that we can rise to the challenge.”
In addition to the Keep Americans Connected Pledge, Chairman Pai commended companies
that have already taken additional steps to ensure that Americans, especially low-income
American families and veterans, remain connected. He exhorted those companies with lowincome broadband programs like the Connect2Compete program to expand and improve them
(for example, by increasing speeds to 25/3 Mbps and expanding eligibility) and those without
to adopt such programs. 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.
Chairman Pai also continued the Commission’s ongoing discussions with service providers
regarding their efforts to ensure that changes in usage patterns occurring during the pandemic
do not impair network performance, as well as their plans to ensure network resiliency.
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Media Relations: (202) 418-0500 / ASL: (844) 432-2275 / TTY: (888) 835-5322 / Twitter: @FCC / www.fcc.gov
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official
action. See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974). |