American Internet Companies Won’t Shut Service During Pandemic – Will Spanish ISP’s Follow?

American Internet Service Providers promised the United States Federal Communications Commission on Friday that they will not cut off internet service to Americans who can’t pay their bills during the coronavirus pandemic.  Will Spain do the same now that we are in lockdown?

Companies in the United States pledged to not terminate service to any residential or small business customers. Also, they will waive late fees that customers incur because of changes in their economic circumstances related to the pandemic.  They will open Wi-Fi hotspots to those in need.

Many US companies have taken the pledge including AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, Comcast and Charter.

Agency Chairman, Ajit Pai, has called on providers to relax data limits and asked companies with low-income broadband programs to expand and improve them.  He has also spoken with providers about making sure their network performance doesn’t suffer as a result of heavier daytime usage of home broadband connections.

The Spanish Prime Minister is set to announce a lockdown in Spain and the internet is going to be the most valuable tool to keep people informed and help businesses to continue operating from home.

Spain’s biggest providers are Movistar, Ono, Jazztel, Orange, Vodafone, and Masmovil. Will they take a leaf out of America’s book?  Spanish lawmakers will surely press for Spain’s ISP’s to follow suit.