Coronavirus: AT&T and Comcast Do Their Part to Help Telecommuters

AT&T and Comcast have both adjusted their home internet packages in an effort to assist Americans who will be telecommuting as a result of the coronavirus....
Coronavirus: AT&T and Comcast Do Their Part to Help Telecommuters
Written by Matt Milano
  • AT&T and Comcast have both adjusted their home internet packages in an effort to assist Americans who will be telecommuting as a result of the coronavirus.

    As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, state and local officials are encouraging companies to allow employees to telecommute if their jobs allow it. Many companies have already implemented work-from-home policies, including Google, Apple, Microsoft, Twitter, Shopify and others.

    With an unprecedented number of individuals telecommuting, AT&T has told Motherboard it will be suspending all usage caps on its broadband service.

    “Many of our AT&T Internet customers already have unlimited home internet access, and we are waiving internet data overage for the remaining customers,” a company spokesperson said.

    Similarly, Comcast is making it easier for low-income families to access the company’s Internet Essentials option.

    “A hallmark of this program has been our flexibility in adjusting Internet Essentials to meet the needs of low-income residents in our footprint. So, effective Monday, we are putting in place two substantial program enhancements to help these families deal with this crisis,” reads the statement.

    “We will make it even easier for low-income families who live in a Comcast service area to sign up by offering new customers 60 days of complimentary Internet Essentials service, which is normally available to all qualified low-income households for $9.95/month.

    “Also, we are increasing Internet speeds for the Internet Essentials service from 15/2 Mbps to 25/3 Mbps for all new and existing customers, which will be the speed of the service going forward. In this way, we will ensure that Internet Essentials customers will be able to use their Internet service for all their increased needs as a result of this health crisis.”

    Both companies deserve credit for taking measures to make it easier for telecommuters, and families in general, to stay home and stay connected in the face of the health crisis.

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