Spectrum is opening Wi-Fi hotspots across Los Angeles to help wildfire survivors

Days after Brutal forest fires That burned tens of thousands of acres in Los Angeles and reduced thousands of homes to ash, Internet service provider Spectrum is opening up a number of its Wi-Fi hotspots for anyone to use. It doesn’t require logging in or creating an account – just search for the Wi-Fi name on your device and tap on it.

Spectrum, Charter Communications’ regional ISP, has opened more than 35,000 Wi-Fi hotspots in the Los Angeles area for public use. Anyone can search for their nearest hotspot on Spectrum website Then connect to a Wi-Fi network called Spectrum Free Trial to get online, as KTLA technology reporter Rich DiMuro noted in an article mail On X (formerly Twitter).

Spectrum customers who have had equipment damaged or destroyed forest fires The company wrote that no fees will be charged for damages Blog post. Those with electricity but no internet service will receive credits until they get back online, which will be applied to save money on their next bill.

Read more: Los Angeles Fires: Donations, relief efforts and how to help fire victims

Internet service providers and other carriers have stepped up to provide additional service during the wildfires. T-Mobile and Starlink have a small satellite network They have temporarily activated their partner service To allow customers to connect to Starlink’s telephony satellite constellation (which the companies… It was previously converted to assist with Hurricane Helen relief efforts In the southeastern United States last October). Although still in testing mode, this network of small satellites enables users to send SMS text messages and receive emergency alerts when they are outside the T-Mobile network.

Verizon has Waiving any call, text, and data usage fees For prepaid and postpaid customers in affected provinces forest fires Until January 18, while also Donate a total of $1 million To the American Red Cross and the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation. AT&T is Waiver of excess fees To offer unlimited talk, text and data to Southern California customers through February 15, donate $100,000 to the American Red Cross and match employee donations to several charities. The carrier has also set up a few device charging stations for the public as well as deploying assistance to first responders.