Charter, Starlink, and Verizon Introduce Hurricane Helene Relief

Charter Communications, SpaceX’s Starlink, and Verizon announced 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. 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. 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, 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.