Verizon controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2026
FCC fines four companies over 911 outages
Fine or penalty
The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau settled investigations into AT&T, Lumen Technologies, Intrado, and Verizon over 911 outages and failures to notify the FCC and 911 operators. The companies were to pay a combined $6 million and implement a compliance plan.
Source excerpt
The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau has settled investigations into AT&T, Lumen Technologies (CenturyLink at the time), Intrado, and Verizon for 911 outages last year.
Together, the companies will pay $6 million for the outages, and for failing to alert the FCC and 911 operators about the outages. The companies also had to agree to implement a compliance plan.
2022
Customer sues Verizon over phone-records subpoena
Lawsuit filed
An anonymous plaintiff filed a lawsuit against Verizon Communications Inc. and the House Select Committee, arguing that they had no right to access the plaintiff’s phone records and seeking an order barring Verizon from handing over the information.
Source excerpt
Ultimately, it seeks a judicial order declaring the subpoena ultra vires, unlawful, and unenforceable and barring Verizon from handing over the information.
According to a complaint filed in District of Columbia District Court on Wednesday by an anonymous plaintiff, the United States House of Representatives Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol (Select Committee) and Verizon Communications Inc. have no right to access the plaintiff’s phone records.
2021
Verizon named as a target of a cyberespionage campaign
Issue disclosure
In June 2021, the Associated Press reported that hackers in a cyberespionage campaign blamed on China targeted Verizon. The report identified Verizon as a target of the campaign. The source does not state that Verizon was breached, and no further details about the incident were provided in the available material.
Source excerpt
The Associated Press has learned that the hackers targeted telecommunications giant Verizon and the country’s largest water agency.
2021
Verizon recalls Ellipsis Jetpack mobile hotspots
Recall announced
Verizon issued a recall of about 2.5 million Ellipsis Jetpack mobile hotspots after reports that the devices overheated and caused fires. Verizon reported at least 15 overheating reports, six reports of fire damage, and at least two reports involving burn injuries.
Company response
Recall — Verizon
Verizon has issued a recall for one of its mobile hotspot products after reports that the devices overheated and caused fire
Source excerpt
Verizon has issued a recall for one of its mobile hotspot products after reports that the devices overheated and caused fire, according to to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Verizon said that it has received at least 15 reports of the lithium-ion battery in the devices overheating and six reports of fire damage. At least two reports involved burn injuries.
To date, Verizon is aware of at least 15 devices that have overheated. This includes "six reports of fire damage to bedding or flooring" as well as "two reports of minor burn injuries," the agency said.
2021
Verizon recalls Ellipsis Jetpack hotspots over overheating and fire hazard
Recall announced
Verizon recalled 2.5 million Ellipsis Jetpack mobile hotspots after discovering that the lithium-ion battery could overheat, creating a fire and burn hazard. The report says the CPSC notice cited 15 overheating reports, including six involving fire damage and two involving minor burn injuries.
Company response
Remediation — Verizon
The company has already sent a software update to powered-on hotspots that it said will help reduce the risk of overheating.
Refund or compensation — Verizon
We are taking the situation very seriously, and we are working diligently to determine the cause of the issues with the supplier and to provide replacement devices for all of our customers, free of charge.
Source excerpt
According to the recall notice posted by the CPSC, Verizon had received 15 reports of the hotspots overheating. Six of those reports included incidents of fire damage to bedding or flooring and two involved minor burn injuries.
Verizon is recalling 2.5 million hotspot devices after discovering that the lithium ion battery can overheat, creating a fire and burning hazard.
2021
Advertising arbiter upholds Verizon’s comparative 5G speed claim
Ruling
The National Advertising Division determined that Verizon had a reasonable basis for its claim that its 5G Ultra Wideband provides the “Fastest 5G in the World.” The claim was challenged by AT&T Services; the division advised Verizon to make clear that the claim refers only to 5G Ultra Wideband.
Source excerpt
The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs determined that Verizon Communications, Inc. provided a reasonable basis for the comparative performance claim that its 5G Ultra Wideband provides the "Fastest 5G in the World."
Thus, NAD advised that, going forward, Verizon carefully craft its comparative 5G performance claims to make clear that "fastest 5G in the world" refers only to its 5G Ultra Wideband.
The claim at issue was challenged by AT&T Services, Inc.
2020
Verizon responds to Huawei's patent lawsuit
Company response
Verizon responded to a patent lawsuit filed by Huawei, characterizing the action as a surprise attack on Verizon and the United States and as a public-relations tactic. The company stated that it would defend its rights. The response was reported on February 7, 2020.
Verizon responded to Huawei's lawsuit, characterizing it as a surprise attack on Verizon and the United States and as a public-relations tactic, and said it would defend its rights.
Stated objective. Huawei is seeking compensation for Verizon's use of patented technology.
Company response
Denial — Verizon
The action lacks merit, and we look forward to vigorously defending ourselves.
Source excerpt
今日，作为被起诉方的Verizon对此发表了强硬的回复：华为的起诉是对Verizon公司和美国的“偷袭”，是一种公关手段，Verizon将不遗余力捍卫自己的权利。
The Chinese telecom giant announced in a press release on Thursday that it had filed a lawsuit against Verizon. The suit, filed in U.S. District Courts for Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, accused Verizon of repeatedly using 12 Huawei patents without permission or, more importantly, paying licensing fees.
Chinese technology company Huawei filed two lawsuits against Verizon in US courts on Thursday.
2019
CommScope patent lawsuit settled through patent transfer
Settlement
CommScope announced the acquisition of Fractus's worldwide base station antenna patent portfolio. This acquisition settled a patent lawsuit that had been filed in Texas against CommScope and Verizon. The resolution was achieved through the transfer of the patents rather than through a court judgment. The event was reported on October 11, 2019.
CommScope’s announced acquisition of Fractus’s worldwide base station antenna patent portfolio settled a patent lawsuit filed in Texas against CommScope and Verizon.
Source excerpt
the settlement includes a technology transfer of Fractus’ entire worldwide portfolio of base station antenna patents to CommScope.
The move, announced by CommScope today, settles a patent lawsuit filed in Texas against CommScope and its customer Verizon in November of last year.
2012
E-911 outage after derecho storm
A severe storm caused failures in Verizon’s emergency-calling service in parts of northern Virginia. An FCC investigation identified problems involving backup power, system monitoring, and operational resilience, leading Verizon to report corrective measures.
2010
Unauthorized data-session billing
Verizon Wireless paid refunds and regulatory penalties after customers were charged for data sessions they had not authorized or knowingly initiated. The company characterized the charges as accidental.
2006
Verizon customer-data and NSA surveillance controversy
Reports alleged that Verizon and other carriers had provided telephone records to United States government agencies after the September 11 attacks. The disclosures prompted privacy protests and litigation. Verizon said it responded to lawful demands and later acknowledged providing customer information to government agencies in some circumstances without individual court orders.