David Michel

During a sweeping COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak that is affecting us all in some way, being home from school and work in particular, it is critical that we stay connected.

I'm pleased to share Altice USA is here to assist.

Below you will find the many ways Altice USA is looking to help customers and communities during this critical time:

Connecting Students. Altice USA is committed to helping schools and students stay connected during this unprecedented time. For households with K-12 and/or college students who may be displaced due to school closures and who do not currently have home internet access, Altice USA is offering its Altice Advantage 30 Mbps broadband solution for free for 60 days to any new customer household within the Altice USA footprint.

Starting Monday, March 16, 2020, eligible households interested in this solution can call:
866-200-9522 to enroll in Optimum region.

Helping Impacted Customers. In addition, Altice USA is proud to have joined the Keep Americans Connected Pledge recently announced by the Federal Communications Commission.As part of the pledge, Altice USA has committed for the next 60 days to:

• not terminate broadband and voice service to any residential or small business customers because of their inability to pay their bills due to the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic;
• waive any late fees that any residential or small business customers incur because of their economic circumstances related to the coronavirus pandemic; and
• open Altice USA WiFi hotspots to any American who needs them.

Aligning with public health authorities. Altice USA has a team dedicated to responding to this pandemic and have Business Continuity Plans to ensure the continuation of services. It is closely monitoring updates from the CDC, WHO and will continue to seek guidance from these agencies, public health officials and government agencies on an ongoing basis.

Protecting employees and customers. As many Altice USA employees interact with customers and the general public, Altice USA has taken steps to limit exposure to and spread of the virus. It has put restrictions on travel, postponing large-scale events, encouraging virtual meetings, and providing remote work solutions. Altice USA is continuing to reinforce the safe behavior in every environment – from customer homes and businesses to our stores and offices, where it has implemented deep cleaning practices, increased frequency of cleaning and is providing hand sanitizer and other protective wear to mitigate the potential for spread of the virus. Furthermore, all Altice employees have paid sick leave and can use it as needed for coronavirus or any other illness.

Commitment to customers and communities. The role of the network plays in keeping people connected is incredibly important in times like these. Altice USA has been investing in technology and increasing network capacity to meet the growing demands of its “always online” culture, and this includes having contingency plans in place to ensure service continuity for customers. To that end, Altice USA is in contact with larger hospital systems, schools and government agencies to ensure they have the connectivity services they need to assist the public during this time. News 12 is working around-the-clock to keep viewers informed in a timely manner of important developments with the Coronavirus.