No acceptable for solution for those of us now working from home (rural), verizon could help but won't
rbtnew
Enthusiast - Level 2

 

Many of us find we are now forced to work from home.  For some, Verizon is ignoring our needs. 

 

I am a teacher, and I live in a rural area.  A jet pack works great for the internet here and is our only real option.  Currently teaching from home I can use a jet pack to zoom-meeting with my classes.  It works quite well but uses 0.8-1.5GB per hour on zoom.  Verizon CAPs our un-throttled data usage at a small 15GB ( or about 10-15 hours of teaching ).  In fact, teaching over the last 5-6 days, we needed about 30GB. 

The service works fine, but verizon refuses to offer any reasonable plan to meet our change in needs from pre-COVID times.  We have some alledged additional hotspot availability through our phones but that has proved totally unreliable.  JetPacks work, but the rediculous 15GB limit is untenable.   Much time wasted with phone or chat support and the best offer is that we can buy additional unthrottled data at $35/5GB !    I have already been forced to buy 2 more jetpacks totalling ~$450, and incur about $60 per month in extra billing to get a base level of about 45GB, or about enough to teach 1.5-2 weeks.  I need another 40-50 GB I would have to buy the data boosts at $35/5GB ,..i.e. spend ANOTHER $300-$350 per month !!!

I am even forced to limit sessions with students due to this!

So many people are now forced to work from home ( not just teachers).  For those of us in rural areas, a Jetpack is often the best and even only solution.  But we need an affordable option that doesn't require us to buy multiple jetpacks and then also tacks on another $300+ /mo for data boosts!!!!

Re: No acceptable for solution for those of us now working from home (rural), verizon could help but won't
JohnnaE
Enthusiast - Level 1

Following. I am seeking answers as well. I am now discovering that my unlimited plan is not really unlimited!   Verizon has not adapted to our current needs and uncertain how to proceed now. I went through the 15mb in a few days and then not even available late yesterday. I am so frustrated!

Re: No acceptable
vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

As a consumer myself, I understand the importance of having a reliable data connection to stay communicated during these times. Our Jetpacks offer up to 15GB of 4G speeds. Being that you need it for zoom meetings which uses high data speeds without limit, Wi-Fi is recommended. I see you mentioned Mobile Hotspot from your phone is unreliable. Can you tell me more about it? What issue are you encountering when using this feature? 

 

-Carment_VZW

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Re: No acceptable for solution for those of us now working from home (rural), verizon could
vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

JohnnaE, it's important to us that you have the answers you need. Mobile Hotspot via a jetpack or phone has never been unlimited with our unlimited data plans as that feature is separate from the mobile data provided to your phone. Only the phone data is unlimited. Mobile hotspot isn't even offered with all unlimited plans. Because wireless spectrum is a shared resource, it's not feasible to provide unlimited hotspot with no restrictions as the network would not sustain that amount of use all at once by several users sharing one tower. It would slow the network down and possible crash it. This is also why network management is imposed on unlimited plans as we want to make sure our customers will still have the ability to make calls to 911 and will be able to use their phone for how it was originally intended. Cellular data was never meant to be a substitute to home Internet for that very reason. Now, we do understand that in rural areas residential Internet isn't always an available option, so we have been lifting up feedback to see about hotspot only options given this new normal we're now having to acclimate to. While it wouldn't change to fully unlimited as too many would take advantage of that as they wouldn't care what restraints too much use would have on a network, we do hope it would lead to more affordable data plan options just for jetpack devices even if only for a temporary time. It is boggling that your state isn't providing you with the ability to be on a corporate/business plan for that hotspot use or perhaps a monthly Internet Stipend given the increased Internet use at your home being used for work purposes. 

 

EbonyR_VZW

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Re: No acceptable for solution for those of us now working from home (rural), verizon could
rbtnew
Enthusiast - Level 2

What is boggling is that if I buy 5 Jet packs you can provide the service with 75GB before throttling but it completely impossible to get that same 75GB on a single device at a reasonable rate and your response is that somehow has kept the 911 service more secure.  That is just not right

Re: No acceptable
rbtnew
Enthusiast - Level 2

Even when signals are good, the phone is working great as a phone or for the internet , and the jet packs are working fine, if I try to use the phone itself as a hot spot it is about 50:50 chance it will allow the hotspot feature to turn on or instead simply return an error "data not available"

 

But I will try his more.  Last week it gave the error 3 times when I need to use it.  this weekend it seemed to not give the error.    Is that based on peak usage times and nothing to do with the device or local signal strength?

 

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Re: No acceptable for solution for those of us now working from home (rural), verizon could help but won't
Tigerstep
Specialist - Level 3

Your anger would be better directed to your local government for caring so little about internet options if a jetpack is the best in that area. Verizon Wireless is a cell phone company first, not home internet -- that falls under Verizon Communications with services such as FIOS.

You should also probably direct that same energy at your school if hey aren't providing you with jetpacks to help out like other schools seem to be doing.

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Re: No acceptable for solution for those of us now working from home (rural), verizon could help but won't
rbtnew
Enthusiast - Level 2

You have the right to that opinion.  I do not agree at all. 

 

Verizon wireless makes and sells a product that works, but they make me buy 3 separate devices to get 45gb/mo instead of offering any reasonable plan to get the same amount of data through one device.

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Re: No acceptable
vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

I totally where you are coming from. I know being a teacher you need more data. I would highly recommend viewing our home internet options. https://www.verizon.com/home-office-solutions/?adobe_mc=MCMID%3D241262312933087528041029323059584278...  Have you considered these options? View Single Home Connected prices. https://www.verizon.com/plans/single-device-plan/ 

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Re: No acceptable for solution for those of us now working from home (rural), verizon could help but won't
Mycell04
Newbie

I'm not a teacher, but have to work remotely using Teams and connecting to a VPN. I also live in a rural area. I can't even get satellite internet let alone any fiber internet. I found that I can only use my jetpack for one 8 hr day before it so down so much it's not working it to stay connected. Which means I have to go in to the office (thankfully that is an option). 

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