Page 6 - aruba-today-20180825

A6 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 25 auguSt 2018

Verizon makes changes as lawmakers decry firefighters' woes

By DON THOMPSON The department bought a
Associated Press government high-speed
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — wireless data plan that pro-
Verizon rolled out changes vides an unlimited amount
Friday as state lawmakers of data at a set monthly
said they were outraged to cost, but the company re-
learn the telecommunica- duces speeds if the buyer
tions company had slowed exceeds certain levels of
firefighters' internet service use during that billing cy-
while they battled what cle.
became the largest wildfire Santa Clara County Fire
on record in California. Chief Anthony Bowden
Verizon said it removed all called unlimited data flow
speed cap restrictions for critical to public safety but
emergency workers fight- said public agencies do
ing wildfires on the West not have unlimited funds
Coast and for those in Ha- and try to find an afford-
waii, where emergency able plan that will meet
crews were rescuing peo- their needs.
ple from areas flooded by He also called for increas-
Hurricane Lane. ing protections to cell
The company promised towers in fire-damaged or
to lift restrictions on public fire-prone areas to main-
safety customers and pro- In this Aug. 7, 2018 file photo, firefighters monitor a backfire while battling the Ranch Fire, part of tain critical communica-
vide full network access the Mendocino Complex Fire near Ladoga, Calif. tions and warnings to area
when other disasters arise. Associated Press residents as well as first re-
The announcement came sponders in emergencies.
hours before the state As- Verizon slowed its internet was caused by the FCC's Congress sent a letter to Bowden said Verizon re-
sembly Select Commit- communications at a wild- action, which allows tele- the Federal Trade Commis- stored full speeds only after
tee on Natural Disaster, fire command center three communications to slow sion calling Verizon's action the department subscribed
Response, Recovery, and weeks ago, crippling an internet speed to selected "unacceptable" and de- to a more expensive plan.
Rebuilding held an infor- emergency communica- customers. manding an investigation That shouldn't have been
mational hearing on the tions truck's data speeds California lawmakers are into whether it amounted necessary, Hickey said,
incident. and forcing firefighters to considering a bill that would to "unfair or deceptive" because the company's
The goal is to determine use other agencies' inter- require internet companies practices. policy is to immediately re-
"how we ensure that all net connections and their to restore net neutrality in Dave Hickey, Verizon's vice move data speed restric-
public safety has the tools personal cellphones. California, requiring equal president of business and tions when contacted in
they need in some of our The county disclosed the data access to all custom- government sales, told emergency situations.
hardest moments in Cali- problem last week in a law- ers. lawmakers the error by the He blamed an "operational
fornia's history battling suit brought by 22 state at- Meanwhile, U.S. House company had nothing to error" for the company's fail-
these natural disasters," torneys general seeking to Democratic Leader Nancy do with net neutrality. ure to lift the data cap as
said Democratic Assembly- restore net neutrality rules Pelosi, U.S. Rep. Anna Es- Rather, the county had soon as firefighters called.
woman Monique Limon of repealed by the Federal hoo, a senior member of used up its monthly data Instead, a Verizon repre-
Santa Barbara. Communications Com- the Energy and Commerce capacity under an internet sentative told the county to
The Santa Clara County mission. The court filing al- Committee, and 11 other plan that allows Verizon to upgrade to a more expen-
Fire Department has said leges that the slowdown Democratic members of significantly slow service. sive package.q

California seeks to be first

state to limit plastic straws

vice restaurants from giv- bly 45-20, is part of a larger an Melissa Melendez said
ing out single-use plastic trend in cities across the she doesn't believe the
straws unless customers re- United States that are ban- measure would effectively
quest them. It wouldn't ban ning plastic bags, plastic curb ocean pollution and
straws as some cities have utensils and other plastic would unfairly punish res-
in a bid to combat waste. goods to reduce ocean taurants.
San Francisco and Seattle pollution. Restaurants would be
passed plastic straw bans Democratic California As- warned for first and second
This July 17, 2018 file photo shows wrapped plastic straws at a
bubble tea cafe in San Francisco. earlier this year, drawing semblyman Ian Calde- violations and fined $25 per
Associated Press ire from conservatives who ron described his measure, day for subsequent infrac-
see the restrictions as gov- AB1884, as a small step tions, with an annual fine
By SOPHIA BOLLAG nia restaurants. ernment overreach and toward reducing plastic limit of $300.
Associated Press Lawmakers on Thursday liberals who say outlawing use and fighting pollution. Calderon says the mea-
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) sent Gov. Jerry Brown a straws hurts disabled peo- It would apply only to full- sure would not be overly
— If you want a straw with measure that supporters ple. service restaurants, not fast burdensome on business-
your drink, you soon may say would make California The California measure, food establishments. es. The restaurant industry
have to ask for it at Califor- the first state to bar full-ser- which passed the Assem- Republican Assemblywom- didn't oppose it.q