Verizon Wireless disconnects 8,500 rural customers for using too much data

Verizon Wireless disconnected about 8,500 customers in rural regions for using too much data. “Approximately 8,500 customers – using a variety of plans – were notified this month that we would no longer be their service provider after October 17, 2017,” a Verizon representative said. “These customers live in 13 states (Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wisconsin) and in areas outside of where Verizon operates our own network.” Verizon said roaming fees were too expensive.

The news is shocking in its own right, but comes at an important time. The FCC is currently considering whether mobile service is a substitute for wireline service. Reliability, cost, performance limitations, platform capability – these are all reasons mobile broadband isn’t an adequate substitute for wireline. Add the fact that there’s no protection for Verizon Wireless’ roaming customers – indeed for no wireless carrier’s customers – should the company decide your ability to connect isn’t worth the cost.

Links:

Verizon gives the boot to 8,500 rural customers for 'using too much data' (Yahoo, Sept. 17, 2017)

Broadband isn’t being deployed in fast enough, CWA tells FCC (Speed Matters, Sept. 11, 2017)