Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 10-7-16 Online Edition

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Senate Democratic Leader Urges Cell Providers
To Suspend Data Overage
TALLAHASSEE --- With the ever-growing reliance of Floridians on internet-based information channels, and the threat of widespread power outages and loss of Wi-Fi as Hurricane Matthew nears Florida, state Senate Demo- cratic Leader Arthenia Joyner on Thursday called on the state’s cellular providers to suspend data overage charges for customers in the impacted emergency areas. She also called on Governor Rick Scott to join her in support of the effort.
“As Floridians ready for evacuations or hunker down in their homes as this hurricane approaches, communication is more critical than ever,” said the Tampa Democrat.
“Data overage charges can not only be prohibitively ex- pensive, but the last thing vic- tims of this monster storm need to worry about. My goal is to keep them connected when Wi-Fi is down, and for most, using their cellular data will be the only way to do that.”
Senator Joyner noted that in August, telecommuni- cations giant AT&T delivered similar relief to its customers in Louisiana following devas- tating floods, albeit through a credit for data overage. Under
ARTHENIA JOYNER Senate Democratic Leader
Senator Joyner’s plan, cus- tomers in Florida would see re- lief through a temporary suspension of potential data overage charges in advance of the storm’s arrival in Florida.
“The last time Florida was hit by a major hurricane, commu- nications were not as heavily dependent on internet technol- ogy,” said Senator Joyner. “As he continues to deliver storm updates and prepare emergency measures, I hope Governor Scott agrees that these relief measures are needed to ensure that storm victims are kept abreast of the latest developments.”
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