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Description
The Boston Human Rights Commission hosted a hearing on the Digital Divide in Boston on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at 5PM via Zoom. Representatives from Comcast, Verizon and Starry came and spoke to their new programs, bundles and changes they have made to help bridge the gap of the digital inequities in the city.
A
C
Sure,
good
afternoon,
madam
chair
and
good
afternoon,
commissioners
and
members
of
the
public
and
our
guests,
I
am
evander
cavallo.
I
have
the
privilege
of
being
the
executive
director
of
the
boston
rights
commission
excited
today
for
another
public
meeting
in
public
hearing.
Obviously
we're
going
to
focus
on
the
issue
of
digital
divide.
We
have
the
providers
of
the
service
here
to
talk
to
us
today,
but
I'll
take
30
seconds
to
just
update
you
on
a
few
things
that
are
going
on
that
you
should
be
aware
of.
C
First
and
foremost,
our
website
has
been
revamped
in
this
live
on
on
on
city
of
boston
website.
People
can
go
to
boston.gov
lost
human
rights
commission
to
find
our
website
with
more
updates.
The
website
obviously
has
our
pictures
has
more
information
about
the
commission
and,
in
fact,
has
an
intake
form
there
to
help
us
start
to.
You
know,
get
information
from
people
about
incidents
and
or
complaints
that
they
may
have
of
discrimination
in
their
communities.
C
The
other
thing
I
want
to
flag
for
you
all
is
is
that
I
went
before
the
city
council
a
couple
days
ago
to
go
justify
essentially
on
their
public
hearing
on
budget.
This
budget
season,
as
you
know,
and
one
thing
to
to
let
you
know,
is
that
the
the
commission
has
been
at
least
on
the
side
of
the
mayor's
office.
They
increased
our
budget
by
a
hundred
thousand
dollars,
which
essentially
the
budget
really
the
way
that
I've
learned
about
it
is
this.
Excuse
me
this
new
hundred
thousand
dollars
is
supposed
to
help
us.
C
C
Another
thing
in
that
space
briefly
I'll
mention
is
that
along
the
initiatives
is
a
perhaps
a
meeting
with
mayor
kim
janey
with
internal
city
hall
employees
to
talk
about
how
they
feeling
in
this
space
now
and
hopefully
offer
them
some
support.
Actually,
this
is
not
a
tentative.
This
is
confirmed,
it's
happening
on
tuesday
again.
C
Not
too
long
ago,
many
city
departments,
including
including
us
as
in
the
hrc
human
rights
commission,
got
gotten
together
recently
to
figure
out
what
the
city
can
do
to
better
support
the
transgender
community
in
the
city
of
boston
and
we're
perhaps
making
a
an
event
next
month,
which
is
essentially
a
listening
session
which
I'll
be
part
of
along
with
you
know
the
trauma
team,
the
women's
advancement
team.
In
fact,
our
new
chief
of
equity
inclusion,
inclusion,
selena
barrows
miller,
is
also
involved
in
this
effort.
C
A
Okay,
well,
the
budget
is
something
the
the
obviously
the
commission
and
the
commissioners
would
like
to
see
it's
something
we
should
approve,
so
something
you
probably
want
to
bring
to
our
next
meeting
or
actually
in
advance.
So
the
first
one.
Obviously
we
weren't
involved
because
we
were
in
existence,
but
now
we
are
so
it's
something
we'd
be
interested
in
and
the
other
thing
I
would.
I
just
want
to
update
the
commissioners.
We
did
send
a
letter
to
the
mayor.
A
You
know
we
approved
the
last
time
and
I
think
people
did
see
in
the
press
that
the
mayor
has
decided
not
to
go
forward
with
continue
the
suit
brought
by
the
10
black
police
officers,
who
had
filed
a
suit
alleging
that
the
test
was
discriminatory
and
then
they
won
in
district
court
and
then
the
city
appealed.
The
city
has
now
dropped
that
appeal,
which
was,
as
you
know,
our
recommendation
as
well.
A
The
city
had
been
on
the
wrong
side
of
that
suit.
So
the
city
has
now
come
on
the
right
side
of
that
suit
and
for
all
the
reasons,
one
being
it's
the
right
thing
to
do,
two
being
the
city
is
saving
a
lot
of
money
by
not
doing
the
wrong
thing
so
or
creating
bad
law
in
the
appeals
court
or
having
forbidden
the
supreme
court.
A
A
That
is
how
we
communicated.
So
when
the
telecommunications
act
was
passed,
we
were
talking
about
a
very
different
thing,
so
we
really
did
do
away
with
heavy-handed
regulation
and
to
tell
you
the
truth
today,
the
telecommunications
act
was
really
dealing
a
lot
with
the
baby
bells
and
and
and
the
telephone
and
it
it
replaced.
A
If
you
don't
have
good
quality
internet,
you
hear
today
we
found
out
that
in
healthcare,
telemedicine
has
been
a
major
piece,
especially
in
the
last
year,
for
people
to
access
medicine
by
telemedicine.
We
found
out
in
community
health
care
85
of
patients
in
community
health
care
centers
when
they
talk
about
telemedicine,
they're
talking
about
the
telephone.
A
A
Unless
you
do
it
over
the
internet.
You
can't
you
can't
apply
to
college
unless
you
do
it
over
the
internet.
It's
interesting
because
you
can't
apply
for
internet
or
free
or
reduced
internet
easily
without
the
internet.
So
there's
a
new.
As
you
know,
federal
law,
that's
providing
reduced
costs
for
internet
fifty
dollars
a
month,
but
most
of
it
is
done
over
the
internet.
If
you
can't
do
it
with
the
internet,
you
can
do
it
through
mail,
but
you
wouldn't
know
about
it.
A
We
heard
from
somebody
who
is
was
monitoring
her
father,
who
had
alzheimer's
and
had
a
device
which
depended
on
the
internet
that
was
connected
to
her
father
that
showed
if
he
left
the
house,
she
would
know
through
this
device.
But
when
the
internet
went
down,
she
had
to
take
her
two
young
children
and
go
and
check
on
her
father.
A
So
there
were
devices
that
we
hadn't
thought
of.
I
think
I
certainly
hadn't
thought
of
that
that
were
dependent
on
the
internet
for
such
a
range
of
our
daily
lives,
which
in
1996
no
one
thought
of,
and
therefore
no
one
thought
of
regulations.
We
regulate
cable,
but
we
don't
really
regulate
the
internet
and
we
know
in
boston.
A
A
Or
the
powerpoint,
I
guess
I
should
say,
or
back
in
1996
I
said
slides.
So
you
know
john
lewis
said.
That's
all
right.
John
lewis
said
access
to
the
internet
is
the
civil
rights
issue
of
the
21st
century,
and
I
think
we've
come
to
believe
that
listening
at
our
hearings-
and
here
are
some
of
the
statistics
that
we've
learned
about.
A
We
heard
from
a
lot
of
seniors
during
these
hearings.
A
lot
of
seniors
showed
up
and
talked
about
how
the
internet
was
a
lifeline
to
their
friends
as
they
got
older
and
especially
in
the
last
year
to
their
friends
in
their
family,
their
children
and
their
grandchildren,
and
what
a
what
a
loss
it
was.
A
C
Talking
with
us,
perhaps
before
we
jump
into
that
some
basic
housekeeping,
as
you
know,
we
invited
members
of
the
city
council
to
be
president
with
us.
I
see
a
few.
I
see.
Certainly
ed
city
council
had
flynn
here
a
few
staff
members,
including
carl
jean
cj,
I
should
say
from
andrea
campbell's
office
up.
Perhaps
actually
I
see
jerry
robinson
who's,
a
school
committee
member,
I
think,
is
here
as
well.
Perhaps
we
can
invite
the
city
council
to
say
a
few
words
since
he's
present.
D
D
D
D
The
human
rights
commission
was
established
under
under
mayor
flynn
in
the
mid
the
mid
80s,
so
I
just
want
to
say
thank
you
to
the
commissioners
for
the
incredible
work
that
you're
doing
and
the
responsibility
you're
taking
in
just
one
brief
minute
or
30
seconds.
I
represent
the
largest
asian
community
in
the
city
of
boston.
I
represent
the
largest
residents
living
in
public
housing
as
well.
Many
of
them
are
asians,
too,
but
I
want
to
say
thank
you
to
the
commissioners
for
the
work
that
you're
doing
and
you're
going
to
do
on
anti-aging
racism.
D
It's
real,
it's
happening
in
our
city,
it's
happening
throughout
the
country.
It's
it's
continuing.
Many
people
associate
it
obviously
with
covert
19
unfairly.
It's
it's
racist,
but
our
our
seniors
in
the
asian
community
are
paying
a
price
for
their
terrible
comments
and
attitude
of
our
previous
president.
D
So
there's
a
lot
of
work
that
we
have
to
do
to
make
sure
that
our
immigrant
neighbors
are
treated,
respect
and
dignity,
and
I
know
that's
exactly
what
you
are
doing
here
tonight
and
over
the
next
several
months
and
years.
Thank
you,
madam
chair.
Thank
you
to
the
executive
director
and
to
the
commissioners
for
giving
me
a
couple
minutes
to
say
hello
and,
but
more
importantly,
thank
you
for
the
work
you're
doing.
A
A
E
A
So
again,
thank
you
for
joining
us
and
I
I
would
be
glad
if
you
wanted
to
make
remarks.
I
also
would
love
you
because
we
were
not
able
to
figure
out
at
all.
We
tried.
We
have
no
idea,
we
could
not
find
out,
and
maybe
this
is
a
secret,
a
market
secret,
but
how
much
of
the
city
each
of
you
serve
in
and
we
each
had
our
own
guests,
but
we
could
not
find
out.
A
We
know
some
of
the
promises
that
were
made
by
verizon
when
they
came
here
six
years
ago.
I
think
when
they,
but
we
don't
have
any
idea,
how
much
of
the
city
each
of
you
serve,
and
I
know
starry
or
you're,
relatively
new
to
our
our
area,
but
between
comcast
and
verizon
star.
How
much
of
the
city
do
you
cover
and
how
much
of
it
do
you
actually
serve.
F
Once
in
a
while,
you
will
find
these
pockets
where
there's
no
access
currently,
because
you
know
it
wasn't
something
where
we
would
lay
down
our
cable
infrastructure
at
the
time.
You
know
that
that
that
we
started
building
whether
it
was
a
warehouse
district
or
something
like
that.
So
we're
really
glad
to
be
here.
F
F
We've
doubled
our
speed
twice
in
the
last
year,
so
we're
up
to
50
megabytes
per
second,
and
then
this
past
september
we
announced
in
boston
that
would
be
opening
lip
zones,
and
currently
we
have
26
active
lift
zones
through
bcyf,
where
we
are
providing
advanced,
wi-fi
or
wi-fi
on
steroids.
I
mean
we
like
to
call
it
sometimes
for
bcuff.
Community
centers
and
we've
had
a
really
great
partnership
with
bcyf
kicking
those
off
installing
those
and
getting
those
sites
up
and
active.
A
F
We're
constantly
maintaining
augmenting
our
our
infrastructure
and
that's
not
changing
so
we're
constantly
getting
getting
further
and
deeper
into
the
neighborhoods
with
the
fiber.
The
the
collapse
base.
You
know
was
already
there
again,
like
you
mentioned
from
the
cable
system,
and
we're
just
continuing
to
build
on
that,
build
on
that
build
on
that
to
make
sure
that
every
pocket
is
served
again
once
in
a
while.
F
You
know
a
specific
address
to
be
raised
brought
to
our
attention
because
it
wasn't
initially
built
out
due
to
its
location
at
the
time
and
we
do
whatever
we
can
to
make
sure
that
that's
happening,
and
we
have.
We
have
that
happening
on
one
street
in
roxbury
right
now,
actually,
where
we're
making
sure
that
build
gets
taken
care
of.
F
A
F
Well,
I
think
I
think
the
hardwire
is
still
the
most
reliable
form
of
internet
that
you
can
have.
You
know,
because
you
don't
have
to
could
be
concerned
about
that,
especially
if
it's
you
know
directly
to
the
home,
but
I
can
certainly
look
up
where
the
current
bills
are
going
on.
I
know
that
it's
changing
all
the
time.
It's
a
fast-paced
industry
for
sure,
so
I
would
have
to
look
into
those
numbers
for
you.
F
97,
we
don't
want
to
say
99.9,
but
we
know
it's
it's
in
that
range,
so,
like
again,
access
to
the
infrastructure,
you
have
the
ability
to
serve
correct,
correct
and
that's
where
that's
why
we
partner
with
bcyf
or
age,
strong
commission
on
dha,
we
partner
with
a
lot
of
these
city
agencies
to
get
that
word
out,
because
the
infrastructure
is
not
the
issue.
It's
the
affordability
and
the
access,
that's
csu,
and
we
continue
to
do
that
with
all
the
communities
we
serve
but
in
boston.
G
Our
company
entered
a
partnership
with
the
city
to
invest
over
600
million
dollars
to
transfer
our
network
in
boston
to
an
all
fiber
100
fiber
optic
network
that
provides
fios
high
speed
internet
advanced
wireless
technology,
which
also
includes
5g,
which
we're
rolling
out
right
now.
Boston
was
one
of
the
first
cities
in
the
nation
that
we
rolled
that
out
in
we
have
so,
basically,
where
we
stand
on
percentage,
we're
building
out
all
of
the
all
of
the
neighborhoods
in
boston.
G
We
started
in
our
first
neighborhoods
in
nubian
square.
We
were
down
in
dorchester
and
also
the
jamaica,
plain
hyde
park
area,
and
then
eventually
we
moved
up
through
the
city.
We
have
brought
our
fiber
to
currently
about
two-thirds
to
70
of
the
city.
The
last
neighborhoods
that
we're
bringing
our
fiber
to
over
the
next
couple
of
years
will
be
are
actually
beacon.
Hill
downtown
we're
in
the
north
end
right
now.
We're
trying
to
finish
that
up.
Hopefully
you
know
in
the
next
couple
of
months,
so
you're
really
looking
at.
G
Like
the
bowdoin
square
area,
the
heart
of
boston,
which
obviously
is
a
little
more
difficult
to
build
because
it's
it
well,
it's
usually
the
busiest
part
of
the
city,
and
even
though
you
know,
we've
been
dealing
with
the
pandemic,
shutdowns
and
and
less
traffic
are
we're.
Also
in
the
process
of
bringing
our
service.
G
What's
a
little
bit
more
challenging
is
we
have
to
get
permission
from
property
owners
of
large
apartment
buildings
and
complexes
to
be
able
to
bring
our
fiber
into
the
building,
because
our
fiber
does
go
to
every
single
unit
in
every
single
household,
so
we're
also
in
the
process
of
negotiating
with
property
managers.
There
are
sometimes
cases
where
we
are
denied
permission
because
they
don't
want
the
disruption.
H
H
So
we
started
providing
service
in
boston
in
late
2018
and
today
we're
passing
more
than
425
000
households
in
the
boston
area.
We
are
continuing
to
build
our
coverage
to
expand
to
those
areas
where
you
noted.
There
are
definitely
service
gaps
in
the
southern
part
of
the
city
is
in
areas
like
matapan
and
dorchester
and
rocks
and
roxbury.
H
H
There
are
existing
agreements
that
may
exist
with
building
providers
that
create
exclusivity
around
whether
it's
wiring
or
access
or
marketing
or
revenue
agreements
that
do
create
challenges
for
new
competitors,
whether
it's
verizon
or
ourselves,
to
access
those
large.
What
we
call
mdus
multi-dwelling
units,
it's
something
that
we
encounter
in
boston,
but
also
encountered
all
the
markets
we
operate
in.
H
We,
you
know
recognize
again
that
the
cost
of
broadband
we
have
to
continue-
and
I
think
angela
spoke
so
eloquently
about
the
fact
that
in
our
urban
centers,
when
we
talk
about
digital
gaps,
it's
not
a
lack
of
access
that
drives
the
digital
gap.
But
it's
really
a
lack
of
affordability
and
from
our
standpoint,
that
lack
of
affordability
is
driven
and
in
two
ways,
one
just
sheer
cost,
but
two
other
hurdles
for
folks
to
adopt
low-cost
affordability
plans.
H
Things
like
credit
checks
or
other
application
processes
can
really
create
insurmountable
hurdles
for
households
to
adopt
even
low-cost
broadband
plans.
And
so
that's
something
that
we
tried
to
innovate
on
with
our
starry
connect
program,
which
is
a
direct
partnership
program
with
public
and
affordable
housing
owners
to
really
specific
target
to
specifically
target
those
communities
that
we
know
are
under
connected.
So
that's
a
little
bit
about
starry
we're
continuing
to
grow
our
footprint,
we're
you
know
happy
to
serve
what
we
call
our
hometown.
A
H
The
acronyms
from
like
the
telecommunications
act,
a
multi-video
channel
provider
which
again
a
broadband
or
a
broadband
provider,
could
not
strike
an
exclusive
service
agreement
with
the
building
which
would
pre,
which
would
essentially
prohibit
competition
in
that
building.
They
struck
exclusive
service
agreements,
however,
they
allowed
that
exclusive
marketing
or
exclusive
wiring
or
exclusive
revenue
agreements
could
continue
to
go
forward
and
what
that
meant
is
that
a
building
owner
could
work
with
a
provider
and
say
hey
I'll,
let
you
have
access
to
my
community
and
my
residence.
H
But
let's
you
know
figure
out
a
deal
to
make
that
happen.
Whether
you
know
you
pull
a
wire
in
and
fund
it
and
then
I'll
lease
it
back
or
we'll
provide
you
with
an
ex
or
you'll,
provide
me
with
an
exclusive
revenue
stream
for
every
resident
that
signs
up
for
your
service,
I'll,
get
a
certain
percentage
or
I'll,
say
I'll.
Allow
you
to
come
into
my
building
and
I'll,
provide
you
exclusive
marketing
right
so
that
you
solely
can
communicate
to
my
residents
about
the
services
you
provide.
H
Those
agreements
are
now
again
under
scrutiny
by
the
fcc
they
under
the
last
administration.
They
issued
another
public
notice
for
comment
to
better
understand
the
impact
of
these
other
types
of
exclusive
agreements
and
whether
or
not
they
affect
competition
in
the
mdu
environment,
so
that
is
still
on
consideration
at
the
fcc.
E
A
A
A
I
mean
she
has
internet
she's
like
a
grown-up,
and
you
know
it
shouldn't
be
a
problem,
but
it's
pretty
embarrassing
when
you're,
the
chief
of
policy
for
the
city
and
you
don't
have
stable
internet
because
you
live
in
dorchester
and
that's
true
in
matapan,
it's
touring,
dorchester
and
no
matter
what
you
pay.
It's
true.
A
It
doesn't
matter
what
you
pay
it's
just
true
and
how
that
happened.
We
could
spend
a
lot
of
time
talking
about
how
we
got
here.
You
know
how
how
if
you
go
to
the
border
of
matapan,
you're?
Okay,
until
you
cross
the
border
of
matapan
and
then
you're,
not
okay,
we
could
talk
a
lot
of
time
about
how
we
got
here.
A
There's,
not
enough
quality
bandwidth
in
that
neighborhood
and
it's
primarily
in
neighborhoods,
where
there
are
black
and
brown
and
poor
people
and
other
people
of
color.
So
we
need
to
figure
out
a
solution,
and
this
is
not
only
people
who
aren't
online.
It's
people
who
are
online
and
in
some
cases
paying
the
same
as
somebody
who
has
quality
internet.
A
They
just
have
unstable,
unstable
internet
and-
and
you
know,
if
there's
anything
that
showed
that
it
was
the
chief
of
policy
in
the
city
trying
to
respond
to
the
transition
team.
So
I
I'm
trying
to
sort
of
work
with
you
to
figure
out
what
you
think
the
solution
is.
But
first
I
want
to
turn
this
over
to
my
colleagues
to
have
them
ask
questions
any
of
any
of
you
who
would
like
to
make
a
comment
or
ask
questions.
I
I
I
I
H
We
made
a
business
decision
as
a
company
to
adhere
to
and
bake
into
our
terms
of
service
our
commitment
to
that
2015,
open
internet
order,
which
included
no
throttling
and
and
none
of
the
things
that
you
describe
in
terms
of
slowing
down
people's
service
or
acting
as
some
type
of
gatekeeper
to
information
that
people
would
want
online.
So
that
is,
you
know
not
just
lip
service.
We
actually
it's
in
the
fine
print
that
we
have
folks
sign
and
it's
a
part
of
our
agreement
and
our
promise
to
our
customers.
F
I'm
going
to
thank
virginia
for
paving
the
way.
Similarly,
that's
that's
not
a
practice.
We
engage
and
we
do
not
throttle.
We
do
not
block,
we
do
not
manage.
We
do
not.
You
know,
enhance
traffic
in
one
neighborhood
and
slow
it
down
in
another.
What
I
what
I
can
say
that
may
be
helpful.
The
city
of
cambridge
also
just
published
their
digital
equity
study
after
I
think
about
a
year
and
a
half
of
gathering
data
and
part
of
that
was
speed
test.
F
So
it's
difficult
to
answer
some
of
these
questions
exactly
because
I
don't
know
how
these
speed
tests
were
conducted
or
what
data
was
used.
But
if
you
look
at
cambridge's
digital
equity
study,
they
selected
a
random
sampling
of
customers
that
were
having
issues
and
found,
I
think
in
every
single
case
it
was
an
issue
on
the
user
end
and
the
only
way
you
can
know
that
is
by
knowing
exactly
what
type
of
modem
the
user
has
exactly
what
type
of
speed
they've
signed
up
for.
F
Sometimes
a
customer
will
sign
up
for
a
higher
speed
because
they
think
their
internet
is
glitchy,
but
the
modem
that
they're
using
has
a
limit
on
it
on
the
speed
that
it
will
even
allow
through
so
no
matter
how
high
you're
paying
for
it.
Your
modem
is
not
going
to
allow
your
speed
to
go
that
high.
I
would
encourage
you
to
take
a
look
at
the
cambridge
digital
equity
study.
It's
fair
warning,
it's
290
pages,
but
I
think
you
may
find.
I
G
Every
customer
has
a
dedicated
line
that
goes
right
to
their
unit
or
their
their
house
onto
an
ont
or
a
terminal
right
on
the
box,
and
the
speeds
are
our
minimum
speeds
are
that
we
offer
a
200
meg
upload
200
make
download.
So
it's
very
very
fast
and
those
speeds
are
honored.
They
should
be
consistent
unless
there's
some
sort
of
equipment
or
user
error,
but
in
those
cases,
then,
if
they
give
us
a
call,
we'll
test
it
and
hopefully
help
the
customer
figure
it
out,
but
they
get
what
they
pay
for.
I
Thank
you
very
much,
so
a
follow-up
question.
So,
if
you,
if
there
is
no
limits
in
in
the
speed
that
you
provide
once
somebody
has
a
contract
with
you,
why
is
it
that
some
providers
don't
advertise
the
speed
like
eight
cylinders
but
up
to
100
megabytes
up
to
25
megabytes
up
two,
when
I
read
up
two
as
a
consumer,
what
I'm?
What
I?
What
I
understand
is
like
it's
not
gonna,
be
always
it's
sometimes
I'm
gonna
get
25.
H
We
have
built
into
the
app
that
we
provide
all
of
our
customers,
speed
tests,
so
they
can
actually
test
and
tell
us
if
they're
experiencing
some
type
of
issue.
We
include
the
uptune
language,
because
our
lawyers
tell
us
to
include
the
up
to
language
because,
unfortunately,
we
live
in
a
very
litigious
society.
H
I
think
it's
totally
apparent
in
our
nps
score
in
terms
of
how
customers
view
our
service
and
what
we
deliver
to
them,
but
we
really
do
strive
to
be
as
transparent
as
possible
with
all
of
our
customers
and
just
to
take
it
back
to
the
technology.
As
I
mentioned,
we
are
a
really
uniquely
different
technology
from
the
other
providers
on
the
call
today.
H
That's
coming
into
your
home,
and
so
we
designed
our
technology
to
really
address
that
friction
that
happens
in
the
home,
where
the
customer
gets
very
frustrated
because
they
don't
they
don't
know,
what's
happening,
why
devices
aren't
connecting
or
why
some
devices
are
underperforming
related
to
others.
The
other
thing
I'll
say
is
that
in
our
network
we
build
a
10
to
one
over
subscription
rate,
which
is
very
conservative
in
terms
of
managing
our
network
and
ensuring
that
every
household
gets
the
bandwidth
that
we
have
committed
to
them.
H
I
know
that
other
services
have
other
levels
of
over
subscription
rates,
and
so
you
know
and
again
that's
a
choice
that
folks
make
in
terms
of
how
they
manage
their
network.
You
know,
but
to
your
point
like
if
you
look
at
new
york
state
in
particular
a
few
years
ago,
they
actually
sued
charter
communications
around
the
same
issue
of
under
delivery
on
advertise
speeds,
and
that
was
something
that
they
settled.
A
J
I'm
when
they're
doing
buildings
in
boston
now
they
do
linkage
where
they
provide
a
percentage
of
the
cost
of
the
building
in
order
to
help
organizations
that
work
with
lower
income.
People
in
the
city
do
the
telecommunication
companies
do
anything
similar
for
those
folks
who
cannot
afford
to
have
the
speeds
and
the
modems
that
are
necessary
in
this
world.
H
Sorry
I'll
I'll
speak
up,
but
I
I
don't
want
to
over
eliminate,
but
but
yes,
commissioner,
so
we
in
late
2018
launched
a
program
called
starry
connect
and
it's
a
specialized
partnership
program
with
public
and
affordable
housing
communities
where
we
provide
a
30
megabit,
symmetrical
product
for
15
a
month.
All
equipment
included
no
data
caps,
no
long
term
contracts,
but,
most
importantly,
we
don't
require
credit
checks
or
the
household
to
be
eligible
for
any
other
federal
assistance
or
other
support
programs.
H
We
have
since
launched
that
program
to
more
than
30
000
units
of
public
and
affordable
housing
in
our
five
markets
that
we
serve,
and
that
includes
3
200
units
of
public
and
affordable
housing
in
the
boston
metro
area
alone.
So
we
work
with
folks
like
the
boston
housing
authority,
the
neighborhood
developers,
shocket
companies,
beacon
communities
and
and
folks,
like
the
alston,
brighton
cd
community
development
corporation,
to
provide
this
ultra
low
cost
option
to
their
communities
during
the
pandemic
last
year.
H
H
starry
took
that
commitment
a
step
further
by
extending
our
commitment
through
the
end
of
july,
as
well
as
making
our
connect
program
free
to
all
of
our
subscribers.
And
then
in
august
we
kicked
off
our
fresh
start
initiative,
which
forgave
the
debt
of
any
subscriber
that
had
owed
us
money
during
the
pandemic.
H
So
we
have
taken
a
lot
of
steps
to
support
our
communities
that
we
know
have
been
most
vulnerable
and
even
more
so
during
the
pandemic,
and
we're
committed
to
continuing
to
expand
our
program
and
the
work
of
our
connect.
The
work
that
our
connect
program
does
to
enable
connectivity,
but
also
partnerships
like
the
ones
we
have
with
microsoft
and
pcs
for
people
for
low-cost
access
to
devices
as
well.
J
H
So
there
are
a
number
of
different
options.
As
the
chairwoman
mentioned,
the
federal
communications
commission
on
may
12th
kicked
off
the
emergency
broadband
benefit
program,
which
provides
up
to
a
50
credit
per
month
for
eligible
households
to
pro
to
put
towards
broadband
access
starry
as
well
as
I'm
sorry,
I
don't
mean
to
be
I'm
not
speaking
on
behalf
of
comcast.
H
Comcast
and
verizon
are
all
eligible
participating
providers
in
this
program
that
will
allow
families
who
cannot
afford
the
cost
of
broadband.
The
ability
to
the
fcc
also
kicked
off
their
emergency
connectivity
fund,
which
is
a
seven
billion
dollar
fund
that
allows
schools
and
libraries
to
access
that
funding
to
get
targeted
support
for
broadband
access
and
devices
to
households
that
are
also
struggling
to
to
meet
that
need.
H
We
all
know
that
lifeline
is
also
available
as
a
benefit
towards
broadband.
We
also
know
that
there
are
a
lot
of
problems
with
the
lifeline
program
in
terms
of
adoption
and
getting
folks
to
sign
up.
So
my
hope
is
that,
with
all
this
focus
at
the
federal
level
in
the
state
and
local
level,
at
looking
at
support
programs
for
for
especially
vulnerable
households,
that
will
take
another
look
at
lifeline
and
how
that
program
is
run
and
how
we
can
lower
barriers
for
folks
to
participate
for
more
folks
to
participate
in
receiving
their
lifeline
benefit.
H
A
So
it's
not
a
benefit
from
the
providers.
It's
actually
a
benefit
to
the
providers
because
they
get
the
fifty
dollars
and
they
don't
have
to
do
anything
for
it
and
the
the
low-income
people
have
to
apply
for
it.
So
what
we
were
arguing
for
was
that
the
organizations
who
support
low-income
people
could
apply
for
it,
which
and-
and
you
know
we
get
into
the
fact-
which
would
some
we'll
get
into
anyway-
is
the
advertising
the
outreach,
multiple
languages?
A
I
That
is
not
the
provider's
fault,
that
is
the
the
computer
or
the
moden,
but
I
think
there
is
evidence
it's
out
there
in
the
world
that
actually
those
speeds
that
are
advertised
are
only
good
at
the
modern
something
the
consumers
don't
know,
but
I
would
like
to
underline
why
I
am
doing
this
and
why,
I'm
being
so
serious
and
a
little
bit
aggressive
with
these
questions,
I
just
finished
teaching
a
whole
year
online
at
the
university
of
massachusetts.
Boston.
I
I
I
think
it's
it's
okay
to
blame
the
lawyers,
I'm
not
a
lawyer,
so
I'm
going
to
let
you
blame
the
lawyers,
but
there
is
something
behind
that
advertising
that
I
saw
in
motion
this
past
year
and
I
think,
is
unfair.
It
might
be
unjust,
although
it's
probably
legal,
but
not
everything
that
is
legal
is
right.
A
E
A
And
in
fact,
you
just
sent
out
new
modems
to
everybody
who
hasn't
a
modem
within
the
last
two
years.
You
just
sent
them
and
I'll.
Tell
you
to
put
in
the
new
modem,
took
my
son
who's,
a
techie
two
hours
on
the
phone
with
your
people
who
couldn't
answer
the
questions.
So,
if
that's,
I
know
you
have
to,
and
you
had
to
have
a
comcast
modem
to
upgrade
to
be
the
right
speed
that
I
have
so
I'd
love
to
know
how
many
people
don't
have
a
comcast
mode.
I.
A
F
A
G
So
our
network,
we
do
stand
by
the
speeds
that
we
advertise.
Yes,
there
can
be
exceptions
to
it,
but
our
entry-level
fios
internet
product
starts
at
20
megabits
per
cent,
absolutely
200
megabits
per
second,
and
we
have
other
plans
that
have
even
more
broadband
that
you
know
you
pay
for
it.
But
if
you
need
the
capacity
because
you
have
multiple
family
members
or
doing
a
lot
of
streaming
or
as
you
put
it
online
learning,
the
200
should
be
more
than
enough
for
family.
H
H
H
From
our
perspective,
when
we
talk
to
customers,
we
really
focus
not
just
on
the
download
but
really
on
the
upload
capacity,
because
that
can
really
determine
what
your
experience
is
going
to
be
as
a
customer
and
what
your
experience
is
going
to
be
when
you
are
trying
to
learn
online
or
work
from
home
or
do
anything
outside
of
just
downloading
a
file.
So
I
just
wanted
to
kind
of
put
that
out
there
that
you
know
when
we
talk
about
speeds,
we
definitely
need
to
talk
about
both
sides.
A
B
The
locations
are
hard
to
get
to
often
times
they're,
not
on
public
transit
and
for
since
the
city
of
boston
is
so
dense,
with
both
I'm
going
to
folk,
mainly
focus
on
verizon
and
comcast,
clearly
they're,
very
densely
populated
locations,
but
there's
very
hard
to
reach
physical
spots
to
train
to
turn
equipment
in
furthermore,
certain
providers.
It
appears
that
their
storefronts
that
they
maintain
are
understaffed,
haven't
been
cleaned,
cleaned
or
updated.
B
In
years
where
the
one
opens
corner
where
I
was
dropping
off
equipment
with
a
friend
a
few
months
ago,
it
was
in
bad
shape
and
I
had
to
drive
to
stoughton
myself.
I
think
it
was
stoughton
willard's
corner.
I
think
it's
called
it's
a
it's
some
type
of
shopping
mall,
but
I
had
to
drive
all
the
way
out
there
to
swap
out
equipment.
B
So
I
do
think
there's
an
issue
about
just
how
where
and
how
your
corporations
are
are
keeping
the
physical
storefronts
to
change
products,
and
I
know
sometimes
it
seems
like
some
people
are
mailing
things
out.
I've
had
neighbors
who
had
some
challenges
accessing
a
post
office
to
mail,
something
back.
B
So
I
was
wondering
if
you
could
just
talk
about
how
you
guys
look
or
your
companies
locate
the
storefronts
and
such
that
gives
physical
support,
since
that's
a
clear
barrier
for
a
lot
of
people
since
you're
bringing
up
the
modem
issue,
it
sounds
like
some
modems
have
had
issues
more
than
others
and
that's
a
whole
swath
of
people
that
need
to
swap
them
out.
So
I'm
interesting
about
your
access
and
how
you
guys,
locate
and
update
your
storefronts
and
staff
them
so
they're
appropriately
staffed.
Thank
you.
F
I'll,
just
chime
in
and
say
so
are
our
store
locations
and
we
have
a
number
of
partners
that
we
work
with,
including
ups
and
711
in
different
locations
that
you
can
do
various
functions
with,
but
our
store
locations,
our
full
service
door
locations,
are
governed
by
the
license
that
we
sign
with
the
city
of
boston.
So
that's
a
document
that
we
signed
every
10
years.
B
F
A
A
Or
I
mean
they're,
both
in
dorchester
or
everybody.
I've
ever
talked
to
in
dorchester
has
this
problem,
the
former
chief
of
policy
for
the
city
who
joyce
slenderhead
who
lives
in
the
city?
I
know
her,
so
the
former,
the
now
chief
of
policy
who
lives
in
dorchester
has
the
same
problem.
Everybody
you
know
it's
dorchester
seems
to
be
a
problem,
as
does
matapan
seem
to
be
a
problem
and
they're.
You
know
this
isn't
a
happenstance.
A
E
D
A
Is
having
people
speak,
multiple
languages
and
having
anyone
answering
the
phone,
be
able
to
answer
the
questions
rather
than
having
a
lot
of
people
answered,
who
don't
know
the
answers,
because
I
think
then
you
would
hear
probably
more
of
these
issues.
If
people
were
multilingual
who
were
calling
problems,
one
of
the
things
we're
going
to
provide
is
on
webs
our
website.
A
We
will
capture
that
information
and
provide
you
with
it.
So
it's
not
anecdotal
well,
it
will
still
be
anecdotal
because
we'll
be
hearing
it,
but
I
will
tell
you
that,
in
terms
of
what
we
think
would
be
helpful,
was
the
issues
around
language
in
terms
of
outreach,
making
everything
as
clear
as
you
possibly
can
in
terms
of
providing
video
and
simple,
simple
one-page
sort
of
directions
in
multiple
languages
and
a
helpful
video
about
how
to
do
things.
We're
talking
about
people
who
come
from
different
cultures
and
speak
different
languages.
A
I
I
personally
find
things
complicated
to
do
when
I
get
them
from
you
guys,
and
I
have
some
education
behind
me
and
I
have
some
technical
abilities
I
think
they're
pretty
complicated.
I
I
heard
the
story.
People
talk
about
the
id,
I
think
having
the
that
provides
a
barrier
for
somebody,
the
id
requirements.
A
A
That
is
a
basic
need
for
life
these
days
and
instead
of
providing,
you
know
money
for
I
don't
know
what
you're
providing
for
to
do
other
things,
but
I
would
say
you
know
the
people
like
tech
goes
home
and
other
people,
if
working
together
in
partnerships,
would
be
a
wonderful
thing
to
do
in
terms
of
the
kinds
of
barriers
that
I
think
you
are
interested
in
breaking
down.
We
are
interested
in
working
with
you
to
break
down.
Those
kinds
of
supports
would
make
a
huge
difference.
I
think
so.
I
can
cover.
E
Do
that
I
can
cover
a
couple
of
those
questions
for
you
margaret
most
recent
that
you,
let's
start
with
the
last
one
around
supporting
nonprofit
organizations,
and
you
brought
up
techo's
home,
where
our
original
pilot
was
launched
in
2010
with
open
air
boston,
which
is
what
became
tecco's
home.
We
are
still
a
significant
supporter
of
techgo's
home
today.
Quite
frankly,
I
am
working
on
a
number
of
different
initiatives
with
them
right
now,
so
understand
that
digital
equity
is
absolutely
where
we
make
our
philanthropic
investments
and
we
have
for
quite
some
time.
E
You
asked
about
languages.
We
just
released
ebb
language,
ebb
information
in
15,
different
languages,
our
internet
essentials
material
is
available
in
all
of
those
languages
as
well.
Our
mobile
phone
application
is
available
in
seven
languages.
Folks
can
call
into
our
internet
essentials
call
center.
We
answer
the
phone
in
english
and
spanish.
If
they
push
nine,
they
have
access
to
a
specific
language
line.
E
K
G
And
verizon
what
we
did
is
we
worked
with
each
individual
customer.
We
rolled
them
into
payment
plans.
We
also
didn't
charge
fees
or
disconnect
during
the
worst
of
the
pandemic,
and
after
that
we
put
them
on
payment
plans
and
we
work
with
individual
customers
to
resolve
their
issues
so
that
we
don't
disconnect
customers
during
this
time
and
help
them
pay
their.
H
We
did,
I
just
wanted
to
clarify
that
it
was
across
all
of
our
subscribers,
so
it
was
not
only.
It
was
not
only
for
our
sorry
connect
subscribers,
which
we
had
made
free
during
that
period,
but
it
was
across
our
entire
subscriber
base.
So
anyone
who
had
owed
us
money
during
that
time
period
we
forgave
their
debt
in
august.
H
I
So
I
want
to
acknowledge
that
you
all
work
for
companies
that
are
for
profit
and
that
you
made
an
enormous
investment
before
you
even
began
making
money.
So
I
understand
that
the
the
access
we
have
to
internet
is
is
through
the
investment
of
your
company
and
its
investors,
and
I
want
to
offer
some
suggestions
that
would
maybe
improve.
I
The
perception
among
the
public
that
internet
companies
are
are
not
very
clear
on
their
advertising.
I
think
there
could
be
more
clarity
in
the
terms
of
the
contracts
in
general,
but
specifically,
I
would
like
to
suggest
clear
language
regarding
limits
on
contracted
speed
due
to
throttling
you
all
said
you,
don't
you
don't
use
this
practice
in
that
case,
a
statement
saying
we
do
not
limit
speed
would
be
very
important,
although
I.
I
I
H
I
I
just
wanted
to
respond,
commissioner,
thank
you
for
that
and
we
100
agree.
We
have
in
plain
language
our
commitments
around
our
network
management
practices
and
net
neutrality,
as
well
as
how
we
manage
our
network.
In
addition
to
that,
we
have
in
consumer
friendly,
plain
language,
our
commitments
to
customer
privacy
as
well-
and
I
know
that
that
again,
that's
another
sort
of
important
consumer-facing
issue
in
2019,
california
passed
the
california
consumer
privacy
act.
H
We
made
the
decision
at
that
time
because
we
also
do
have
subscribers
and
our
network
in
california
to
take
the
ccpa
and
apply
it
across
all
of
our
subscribers,
including
those
living
in
boston,
so
that
they
could
benefit
from
the
protections
under
ccpa,
which
today
continues
to
stand
as
the
most
stringent
consumer
privacy
act
in
the
country.
So
I
100
agree.
I
H
A
B
Yeah,
I
just
want
to
give
verizon
an
opportunity
to
answer
my
earlier
question
about
their
storefront,
how
they
house
are
there
the
way
in
which
they
locate
their
storefronts,
for
where
people
exchange
equipment
throughout
the
city?
So
it's
accessible
just
like
to
kind
of
hash
that
out
since
comcast
says
they've
committed
to
seven
stores
under
contract.
I'm
wondering
if
verizon
has
something
similar.
G
G
A
lot
of
our
activity
is
done
also
via
the
mail
where,
if
you
do
need
a
new
writer
or
something
we
can
get
it
right
out
within
a
day.
There
is
a
lot
a
lot
more,
especially
in
the
last
year,
or
so
that's
been
happening
via
via
the
mail,
but
that
is
the
preferred
model
and
we
commit
to
get
things
out
quickly.
So
it's
convenient
for
people.
B
I
that's
that's
part
of
my
challenge.
Is
there
was
two
locations
when
and
I
had
to
go
drive
out
to
the
suburbs,
because
there
was
both
a
access
issue
and
a
supply
issue
of
what
the
store
had
on
hand-
and
I
was
a
surprise
first,
a
company
that
had
such
a
very
large
footprint
that
there's
very
few
opportunities,
especially
in
low-income
non-white
communities.
B
A
So
either
susan
do
we
have
any
no,
no
questions
from
the
so
far.
Okay,
so
we'll
give
people
a
couple
of
minutes
if
they
do
have
questions.
So
what
I,
what
I'm
hearing
from
robert
for
the
verizon
people
is
the
the
the
only
and
I
guess
I
heard
there's
a
one
in
south
boston,
one
on
boylston
street,
which
is
where
I
live
right
up
the
street
there's
a
verizon
store,
but
none
in
in
in
the
matterpian
dorchester
or
those
areas,
and-
and
there
aren't
many
post
offices
anymore-
is
the
problem.
A
They're
just
on
they've
disappeared,
unfortunately,
and
and
if
you
don't
have
a
car,
it's
a
problem
to
to
take
a
package
as
opposed
to
an
envelope
but
a
package
to
take
somewhere.
So
it
might
be
something
to
take
back
to
your
folks
and
suggest
that
this
is
something
that
might
be
an
issue
in
terms
of.
Maybe
there
are
some
ways
to
like
like
amazon.
A
Does
you
know
to
have
places
that
you
could
drop
things
off
that
are
not
a
verizon
store
or
not
a
post
office
in
areas
that
are
lower
income
neighborhoods?
You
might
think
of
that
people.
Don't
have
transportation
to
go
to
what
robert
did
was
go
off
to
a
suburb.
You
might
think
about
that,
because
now
that
you
you're
mailing
modems
or
pieces
of
equipment
to
people
that
you
can't
put
it
in
a
mailbox
to
return
something
that
will
become
an
issue
for
people
as
post
offices
continue
to
disappear
from
us.
So.
A
People
have
any
other
questions
we
will.
We
will
provide
you
with
all
the
slides
powerpoints
that
we
have
tonight
and
any
other
information
that
we
have.
We
also
will
continue
to
provide
you
with
information
that
we
developed
from
our
own
website
and
information
that
we
have
spoken
about.
Our
concern
is
that
in
matapan
in
dorchester,
we
believe
that
there
is
a
problem
from
what
we've
heard
and
what
we've
seen
in
terms
of
speed
and
reliability.
A
We
believe
it
has
to
do
with
the
provisioning
in
those
neighborhoods,
and
we
will
turn
that
data
over
to
you,
and
hopefully
we
will
find
a
solution
together
to
provide
more
reliable
broadband
to
areas
that
we're
concerned
with,
and
those
neighborhoods
are
low-income
neighborhoods
and
they
are
neighborhoods
with
particularly
black
and
brown
people
and
other
people
of
color,
and
I
know
you
would
be
as
concerned
as
we
are
with
ensuring
that
those
neighborhoods
are
treated
equally
as
well
as
back
bay
and
beacon
hill.
So
we
appreciate
your
joining
us
tonight.