Today, leaders from the NAACP, Ohio Poverty Law Center, Alliance for Retired Americans, ProgressOhio and Communications Workers of America District 4 called on the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to reject AT&T’s request to drop out of the Lifeline program. AT&T’s abandonment of the Lifeline program, which subsidizes vital phone and internet services, would harm over 10,000 of their Ohioa customers - including the elderly, veterans and low-income households.

The agreement, which extends the contracts through August 5, 2023, will deliver an 11.2% wage increase over the additional four years and covers over 34,000 Verizon workers, including call center workers, and central office and field technicians.