Attorney General Josh Stein is calling on major cell service and internet providers to offer free data and high-speed internet for those recovering from Hurricane Helene. He also asks the providers to reimburse customers for charges while the service is down. Stein says in the aftermath of the hurricane, people have been struggling to get accurate information and safety services due to a lack of internet access or service.
I appreciate that many cell and internet providers have been hard at work to restore services in the mountains, and many communities are back online,” said Stein.
Stein advocates for free internet
But the people of western North Carolina need more help.
We are asking these companies to go a step further and offer those recovering from the storm-free, high-speed, mobile internet and cell data for at least two billing cycles and reimburse folks for charges during the outage. This recovery is going to be long and expensive, and we all need to do everything we can to support our neighbors in western North Carolina.
The attorney general is also asking the companies to reimburse people for coverage they paid for but did not get when the storm hit and any additional fees for roaming or overage charges after the storm. Many North Carolinians in western North Carolina were without power and internet access, unable to use their phones—all serious risks that impeded their ability to get critical updates from law enforcement and government officials as recovery efforts continue and from organizations providing support on the ground.
The Attorney General’s Office has been informed that some North Carolinians were forced to pay high prices to access high-speed internet on their phones.
Noah Nguyen is a multi-talented developer who brings a unique perspective to his craft. Initially a creative writing professor, he turned to Dev work for the ability to work remotely. He now lives in Seattle, spending time hiking and drinking craft beer with his fiancee.
