Verizon CEO renews call for broadband subsidy boost

Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg argued policymakers should focus broadband funding more on promoting affordability rather than accessibility. “I think that when it comes to accessibility, I think that all carriers are building quite extensively,” he said, adding Verizon covers “almost all individuals in this country with” its wireless network. “Now we're turning that into fixed wireless access or using our fiber-to-the-home. So we are clearly doing that, and I guess my competitors are doing the same,” he continued. Instead of accessibility, Vestberg said he thinks “the government should work on subsidy much more” to ensure families can afford broadband in the first place rather than allocating money to “building products that are actually not meeting the demands of those families.” “I'm talking about they need to be able to do remote learning. They need to be able to have telehealth. They need to be able to work from home,” he explained.