Verizon Scraps 'Non-Critical' Internet Repairs Amid Coronavirus

NEW YORK CITY — Verizon issued a new coronavirus policy capping in-home installation and repairs, leaving customers deeply concerned about how they'll work and learn remotely if the internet goes out.

Multiple customers took to Twitter Tuesday to quiz Verizon, one of the nation's largest internet providers, about why their in-person visits had been suddenly canceled or pushed back by months.

"I got a text that my installation appointment tomorrow has been suspended," tweeted Amanda V. "Cannot reach anyone by phone."

Verizon Support replied, "As a result of COVID-19, we are taking precautions to keep our employees and customers safe. At this time, our technicians will not be able to enter your home to install new services or do repair work."

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Verizon's COVID-19 policy page shows that in-home installation work will be "minimized" to critical needs to "keep our employees and customers safe."

Some new customers may qualify for self-installation materials while others will have to wait for a future appointment, according to the Verizon Support account.

A spokesperson told Business Insider, first to report the new policy, Verizon was limiting in-home visits "to medical emergencies and critical installations."

One Verizon customer said his installation appointment had been rescheduled for Nov. 30.

New Yorkers across the state have come to rely on internet access to work and learn after Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a stay-at-home order on March 20.

The task has proved especially grueling for New York City's 1.1 million public school students, some of whom have been relying on cellphone plans to log into their online classrooms.

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