Charter Communications, SpaceX’s Starlink, and Verizon announced this week how they are providing free internet and wireless phone communications — and financial and other resources — to residents in areas affected by Hurricane Helene.
Charter announced that last week it had opened close to 90,000 Spectrum out-of-home Wi-Fi access points in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and bordering areas. These access points are available to all users at no cost through Monday, October 7. Spectrum Wi-Fi access points are typically located in public parks, marinas, city streets and other public areas “and will help ensure available connectivity as the recovery continues,” Charter said.
The company is also coordinating with state and local agencies to provide temporary connectivity to relief and shelter locations where possible.
SpaceX has sent at least 500 Starlink kits to help restore internet for residents, according to an October 1 post on X regarding Hurricane Helene relief. The company announced yesterday that it is offering one month of free internet connectivity to those in hurricane-impacted areas.
“Starlink aims to enable anyone impacted by a natural disaster to be able to access internet connectivity,” the announcement read. “For those in areas that were impacted by Hurricane Helene, Starlink is available and temporarily offering free service for the first month.”
The announcement provides step-by-step instructions accessing the “Helene Relief” service plan for new customers, existing customers, and anyone “looking to enable rapid assistance for responding to communities impacted by Hurricane Helene.”
On September 26, Verizon announced that it would support customers in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina impacted by the disaster by waiving postpaid domestic call/text/data usage through October 5.
In an updated post today, however, Verizon said it was extending and expanding their Hurricane Helene relief, “which is the largest storm-related offer we’ve ever given our customers.” Verizon plans to waive domestic call/text/data usage from September 28 to October 27 for postpaid consumer and Verizon Small Business customers in listed counties in those states.
No action is necessary on the part of customers to take advantage of the offer, Verizon said, adding that any overages for those whose billing cycles have already closed will be automatically credited back.
Earlier this week Verizon noted that its crews would work until connectivity is fully restored to all, but there was still a tremendous amount of work ahead.
Verizon also said this week that it would donate $325,000 directly to local organizations serving the impacted areas. “As so many work to rebuild their homes and livelihoods, this funding is intended to support local relief efforts, not just for the coming days, but in the weeks and months ahead,” the company stated in a press release.
The contributions will go to United Way of North Carolina — UW Helps NC Fund ($100,000); Central Carolina Community Foundation — One South Carolina Fund ($50,000); Volunteer Florida ($50,000); and $25,000 donations to each of five organizations in Florida and Georgia.
Charter’s Spectrum brand also is making a financial commitment of $1 million to support Hurricane Helene relief efforts. This comes in the form of $250,000 in cash contributions allocated to various disaster relief funds and $750,000 in in-kind public service announcement (PSA) airtime to assist organizations in devastated communities with their fundraising and awareness campaigns.
In August, Verizon’s director of business continuity and event management, Mark Paff, spoke with Telecompetitor about how Verizon responds to emergencies and ensures continuity of operations.
