Verizon lifts data restrictions for first responders after throttling Calif. firefighters

After taking criticism this week for throttling a fire department’s data speeds during a wildfire, Verizon announced Thursday it no longer will place restrictions on data speeds of first responders during emergencies on the West Coast.

Verizon Senior Vice President Mike Maiorana says Verizon will lift data restrictions and provide full network access to first responders during disasters.

The announcement comes a few days after a Silicon Valley fire department revealed in court documents that Verizon intentionally throttled the department’s data speeds during the Mendocino Complex fire, the largest wildfire ever in California, covering more than 400,000 acres.

USA Today NetworkRyan Suppe, USA TODAY

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/nation-now/2018/08/24/verizon-removes-speed-restrictions-first-responders/1084102002/

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Montana firefighters planning for data needs to avoid “throttling”

“I don’t want to pay for all that data every month on the off chance that we’re going to use it,” he said. “But when we need it, we need it.”

Jonathon Ambarian

https://ktvh.com/news/fire-watch/2018/08/24/montana-firefighters-planning-for-data-needs-to-avoid-throttling/