Verizon Throttled California Fire Department's Data Speeds During Wildfire Response [Updated]

[convergent]

This is not that complicated. Verizon is a business. They offer different service plans. The fire department bought a service plan full well knowing that it had throttling as part of the plan. Now they have an emergency and expect Verizon to magically change the plan they signed up for. If they don't want throttling, then they can pay the price to buy a different plan just like everyone else. They want something but don't want to pay for it. There is no evil conspiracy here.

 

[bruinsrme]

I wouldn’t wish the state of Washington on my worst enemy.
[doublepost=1534905459][/doublepost]

If you want to measure dicks, I was inside the FCC when Ajit Pai overturned net neutrality. Good for you dude but making tech doesn’t really make you an expert on tech policy.

You know what’s really funny? Obama passing net neutrality and allowing Netflix to stream a mectric-ton of data for pennies on the dollar. A couple years later when things have settled down and he is sitting pretty with a multi-million dollar contract with Netflix for his own show. If that doesn’t set off alarms in your head I don’t know what will.

Yes, Obama shilled for Netflix and used the American people to do it.

Wow, never pieced those two together.

 

[OLDCODGER]

Apparently, to some, the words "cap" and "unlimited" mean the same thing.

 

[Smith288]

Maybe Trump can do us a favor for once and go after these crooks. Oh wait...

It was bad decision locally. Not a "Verizon" policy. Do people read articles anymore?
[doublepost=1534942574][/doublepost]

I wouldn’t wish the state of Washington on my worst enemy.
[doublepost=1534905459][/doublepost]

Absolutely nothing.
[doublepost=1534906800][/doublepost]

If you want to measure dicks, I was inside the FCC when Ajit Pai overturned net neutrality. Good for you dude but making tech doesn’t really make you an expert on tech policy.

You know what’s really funny? Obama passing net neutrality and allowing Netflix to stream a mectric-ton of data for pennies on the dollar. A couple years later when things have settled down and he is sitting pretty with a multi-million dollar contract with Netflix for his own show. If that doesn’t set off alarms in your head I don’t know what will.

Yes, Obama shilled for Netflix and used the American people to do it.

I wouldn’t wish the state of Washington on my worst enemy.
[doublepost=1534905459][/doublepost]

Absolutely nothing.
[doublepost=1534906800][/doublepost]

If you want to measure dicks, I was inside the FCC when Ajit Pai overturned net neutrality. Good for you dude but making tech doesn’t really make you an expert on tech policy.

You know what’s really funny? Obama passing net neutrality and allowing Netflix to stream a mectric-ton of data for pennies on the dollar. A couple years later when things have settled down and he is sitting pretty with a multi-million dollar contract with Netflix for his own show. If that doesn’t set off alarms in your head I don’t know what will.

Yes, Obama shilled for Netflix and used the American people to do it.

This is a connection I never thought. Insane. And of course, many here will whistle past that.

 

[jonnyb098]

Oh so a customer support person made a mistake. IM FLUMMOXED! Maybe they should hire staff that are at least 50 percent proficient in the English language/grammar.

 

[AustinIllini]

It was bad decision locally. Not a "Verizon" policy. Do people read articles anymore?
[doublepost=1534942574][/doublepost]


This is a connection I never thought. Insane. And of course, many here will whistle past that.

I clearly read it more accurately than you did. Verizon took full responsibility for the issue.

 

[Smith288]

I clearly read it more accurately than you did. Verizon took full responsibility for the issue.

They sure did as a any decent company who cares about their reputation would in regards to EMS situations. But the CAUSE of the problem wasnt company policy. It was a mistake in applying company policy.

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

See nothing wrong with this. This is business. If you want to prevent this, have redundant data providers and do not blow through your data. If you do, understand the consequences of those actions. If you know you are going through 22GB of data in a "command center", then make it part of your day 0 or day 1 action plan in a crisis to upgrade the plan. It is a flip of a switch on Verizon's end so all it takes is a phone call.

California wants an exception. Then Canada wants an exception. Then Joe down the streets wants an exception. Good on Verizon for standing their ground.

Also this has nothing to do with Net Neutrality, so why even bring it up? This would not have been "prevented" even if Net Neutrality was still in place.

How's that boot taste?

 

[CAWjr]

Verizon is an easy target, and I am not defending their overall practices at all, but you need to look at the fire department if you want someone to blame. They know that they have mission critical needs. They are the ones who signed up for specific data plans. They should have been very clear about what their needs are instead of waiting for a time of crisis to raise the issue. It's no different than showing up with 10 feet of hose when you know you need 100 feet. You don't call the hose company & demand that they give you 90 feet for free while you battle the fire. You plan to have 100 feet when you show up.

 

[cwanja]

From the Ars Technica article:

Even if Verizon's throttling didn't technically violate the no-throttling rule, Santa Clara could have complained to the FCC under the now-removed net neutrality system, which allowed Internet users to file complaints about any unjust or unreasonable prices and practices. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's decision to deregulate the broadband industry eliminated that complaint option and also limited consumers' rights to sue Internet providers over unjust or unreasonable behavior.

[doublepost=1534914810][/doublepost]

Won't somone think of the poor corporations!

What is stopping them from "complaining" today? Certain they could still submit a "complaint". In fact, it has been pointed out in this thread that they can still do it using web archives. Next argument?

First of all unlimited plans should be unlimited, second of all this is the type of data that should not EVER BE THROTTLED. There is no way that an important organization like CalFire needs to pay more so that their data gets priority for helping firemen who are risking their lives - some of them dying - so that we can have our homes and possessions safe from those fires out there. Your logic is the equivalent of saying we shouldn't pull to the side of a road when an ambulance has a siren on, because it costs people gas money to sit in one spot waiting for it to pass.

And yes it does relate to net neutrality, because without it Verizon can technically throttle data for any reason, such as political ones, regardless of data overages.

Also Verizon already admitted wrongdoing, as it is policy to lift data caps in times of emergencies. Shame on you all around.

I am sorry, did they sign up for an unlimited, non-throttled plan? Verizon treated them just like they treat everyone else. Which is exactly how it should have been. Yes, as I have stated several times in other posts, Verizon should have handled it differently and they admit that. But the fact is, this is should not be news and it is being thrown around to make Verizon out as the bad corporation. I will say what I have said before, know what you signed up for.

This is what we get when you end “net neutrality”.

Sorry but it is, and they don’t owe us any explanation they can do what they want.

This would have been no different under net neutrality as it has been described and outlined in several posts here. Get over it.

 

[PG(Austin)]

NBCNews.com: No pay, no spray: Firefighters let home burn

Firefighters shouldn't be completely surprised about the "no pay, no data" policy from Verizon.

I don't really understand the issue here. If you are a fire fighter, especially in a massive fire fight effort, and you come upon a home on fire, or anything for that matter, do you need a text or a phone call from someone to put it out? I admit I didn't read the article linked, but it's very title suggest that they needed permission via phone call or text or some use of data, to fight a fire, that they couldn't get because of the throttling. That's absurd. Ad why would you rely on a data network when there are handheld radio systems.

So THAT's why San Francisco burned in 1851, they were waiting on permission coming via pony express, but the company that owned the roads made the horses stop till they paid more.

 

[MacBH928]

Allowing companies to advertise "unlimited" where they get to redefine that word however they like is FRAUD, plain and simple. It always has been, and this is not a net neutrality issue -- it's a false advertising one.

companies should be sued for using misleading words like: The Best, unlimited, fastest, original, natural...

I rather buy a product that says "Sandwich Spread" than "Cheese made from natural cow milk" with 500 stars indicating what they mean in smaller print.

 

[Wags]

We will probably see commercials now on how Verizon goes to an area where there was some sort of catastrophe and makes sure the community is connected.

 

[FrenchRoasted]

As soon as I saw the Politics warning, I knew the comments section would be a dumpster fire of anti free market garbage. Was not disappointed.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

This is not that complicated. Verizon is a business. They offer different service plans. The fire department bought a service plan full well knowing that it had throttling as part of the plan. Now they have an emergency and expect Verizon to magically change the plan they signed up for. If they don't want throttling, then they can pay the price to buy a different plan just like everyone else. They want something but don't want to pay for it. There is no evil conspiracy here.

Hopefully Verizon won’t get too pissed during their next fire when the fire department throttles the water supply.

 

[Edsel]

The blame resides with the government agency that purchased the Verizon data plan. Having worked in public sector contract systems and after reading the pdf email chain referenced in this story, there is little doubt that someone on the government side didn't do their due diligence in procuring the appropriate data plan.

This problem has nothing to do with "net -neutrality". It's a government bureaucracy problem.
[doublepost=1534948864][/doublepost]

Allowing companies to advertise "unlimited" where they get to redefine that word however they like is FRAUD, plain and simple. It always has been, and this is not a net neutrality issue -- it's a false advertising one.

How is that different than a government lottery game advertising a $100 million payout without telling you that half of that is kept by the government for taxes. Or, all of the promises politicians make to get elected and then don't deliver on those promises. Life is full of fine print and promises - nothing is free, or unlimited.

 

[Southern Dad]

The Fire Department may have chosen the wrong plan but Verizon refusing to immediately lift the cap in the name of public safety was a bad public relations move. I do agree that this had nothing to do with Net Neutrality or recent changes. Verizon has been throttling heavy users on its "unlimited" plans for quite a while.

 

[kjvmartin]

Somebody at the fire department got lazy, took the gamble, and lost.

Public services are under intense budget restrictions as of late. Though the economy has seemingly recovered since the crash of 2008, for whatever reason the powers that be are still pushing sacrifices are needed to make budget.

Generally when the government buys a service they are required to use the cheapest thing available.

Here's what happened, I can guarantee you: Some auditor or manager would make a stand that taxpayers should not be on the hook for a premium unlimited plan when there is a cheaper unlimited option. I do not think anyone was lazy. Someone was trying to keep their job by staying under a budget imposed by the local government. Period.

 

[cwanja]

Public services are under intense budget restrictions as of late. Though the economy has seemingly recovered since the crash of 2008, for whatever reason the powers that be are still pushing sacrifices are needed to make budget.

Generally when the government buys a service they are required to use the cheapest thing available.

Here's what happened, I can guarantee you: Some auditor or manager would make a stand that taxpayers should not be on the hook for a premium unlimited plan when there is a cheaper unlimited option. I do not think anyone was lazy. Someone was trying to keep their job by staying under a budget imposed by the local government. Period.

Given the tax rate in California, I find the bold part of your quote hard to believe.

 

[DonutHands]

Sounds like the fire department is completely at fault here.

The Mendocino fire was also not the only time Verizon's throttling limited fire services, with other incidents occurring in December and June.

The lesson could have been learned 2 times already if the reporting is correct.

 

[kaneda]

Sounds like the fire department is completely at fault here.



The lesson could have been learned 2 times already if the reporting is correct.

Looks like corporation putting money first with common sense.

 

[TheColtr]

EMS wireless plans, especially ones that are tied to a vehicle, and not just some dudes phone, should never be throttled. Booo hooo for Verizon is EMS uses a lot of data, it’s not like they’re using it to game on their xboxes.

I really don’t like a lot of regulation, but I think it’s clear here that EMS services should never be throttled, emergency or not. Think about when they do training, are they going to get throttled then? F*** Verizon for acting like fire department is like any other joe blow watching Netflix on cellular.

 

[Mousse]

Verizon has been throttling heavy users on its "unlimited" plans for quite a while.

They keep seeing that word. All these carriers keep using that word...

Must be New Speak. They need to offer "unlimited", "plus-unlimited" and "doubleplus-unlimited."

 

[routine_analyst]

Let's say a family has an emergency and has used their allotted 25GB plan. On the way out the door they google map navigate to the nearest hospital. But because Verizon has begun to throttle their data and it's a heavily populated area (lets just say west LA) the family has to wait for the google maps app to load, possibly even not loading and stalling. Family emergency < Government Emergency? Data throttling is ********.

 

[Supermacguy]

Maybe if the fire burns down a Verizon tower, and the fire dept "doesn't get to it", that would just be karma in action.