To: CLA Mayor-City Council-County Commissioner Caucus & Partners
From: Tim Barnes | CLA President
Re: CLA Partner Spotlight: CLA Partner responses to Coronavirus Pandemic

Please see below information provided by CLA partners the steps their companies and industries are taking in your communities to address the unfolding coronavirus pandemic. For more information please contact the appropriate person listed below. Click below to learn more. Top



American Hotel Lodging Association AHLA
Dear Mayor,
 
On behalf of the American Hotel & Lodging Association and the more 8.3 million associates supporting the hotel industry, thank you for your leadership in addressing the impacts of the coronavirus COVID-19.
 
While there are currently no restrictions to travel within the United States, our industry is taking very seriously the concerns of America's traveling public. That's why I'm sharing our  Coronavirus Readiness Toolkit, which includes guidance to hoteliers on coordinating with state and local health officials, ensuring flexible sick leave policies and stressing workplace hygiene and prevention cleaning measures.
 
We are also hosting a series of webinars to ensure hoteliers have the latest guidance to protect the health of the traveling public and hotel employees.
 
The hotel industry has protocols in place to deal with everything from the common cold to the flu. And hotels are thoroughly cleaned every day. We have long been prepared to deal with public health challenges like Norovirus, H1N1, and now COVID-19. Thankfully, this preparedness aligns with the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
 
Currently, our members are working with industry experts to increase the frequency of cleaning and supplying additional sanitizer stations with a minimum alcohol content of 60-90 percent.
 
As we all work to manage this situation, there is currently a low number of cases of COVID-19 in the United States. We remain vigilant about the cases being reported, yet we urge everyone to understand that travel is still safe. Travel and tourism are also critical to our national economy and virtually every local economy. During this time, please know that we are a partner to you in helping to address public concerns and encouraging safe travel for the benefit of communities across the country.
 
America's hotel industry remains open and ready to serve our guests and to continue to provide livelihoods for the residents of your communities.
 
Sincerely,
Chip Rogers
President & CEO
American Hotel & Lodging Association
Travel Industry Statement
Coronavirus 1-pager
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Airlines for America A4A 
Statement from Nicholas E. Calio, President and CEO, Airlines for America 
WASHINGTON, March 11, 2020 - 
We commend President Trump for continuing to take decisive action to protect the health and well-being of the American people. For U.S. airlines, the safety of our passengers, crew and cargo is - and always will be - our top priority.
The unforeseen outbreak of the coronavirus has directly impacted the U.S. airline industry, which is critical to the U.S. and global economies. This action will hit U.S. airlines, their employees, travelers and the shipping public extremely hard. However, we respect the need to take this unprecedented action and appreciate the Administration's commitment to facilitate travel and trade.
We will continue to work hand-in-hand with the White House and relevant federal agencies as they work to contain this virus and mitigate its impact on the United States and countries around the world.
To learn more about how airlines are taking action, please visit www.AirlinesTakeAction.com .
ABOUT A4A
Airlines for America (A4A) advocates on behalf of the U.S. airline industry as a model of safety, customer service and environmental responsibility and as the indispensable network that drives our nation's economy and global competitiveness. A4A works collaboratively with the airlines, labor, Congress, the Administration and other groups to improve aviation for the traveling and shipping public.
For more information about the airline industry, visit our website airlines.org and our blog, A Better Flight Plan, at airlines.org/blog.
Follow us on Twitter: @airlinesdotorg.
Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/AirlinesforAmerica. Join us on Instagram: instagram.com/AirlinesforAmerica.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Carter Yang
Managing Director, Industry Communications
202-626-4141
Katherine Estep
Director, Communications
202-626-4234
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Additional coronavirus resources from Airlines from America 
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Comcast Comcast
C omcast Increases Access to and Speeds of Internet Essentials' Low-Income Internet Service to Support Americans Through the Coronavirus Pandemic
 
Dana Strong, President, Consumer Services, Comcast Cable
 
As our country continues to manage the COVID-19 emergency, we recognize that our company plays an important role in helping our customers stay connected - to their families, their workplaces, their schools, and the latest information about the virus - through the Internet.
 
We also know that for millions of low-income Americans who don't have Internet service at home, this uncertain time is going to be even more difficult to manage.  As schools and businesses close and families are encouraged, or even mandated, to stay home, Internet connectivity becomes even more important.
 
At Comcast, we've been looking for ways to help through our Internet Essentials program, which is the nation's largest and most comprehensive broadband adoption program for low-income Americans.  Since 2011, it has connected millions of individuals to the Internet.
 
A hallmark of this program has been our flexibility in adjusting Internet Essentials to meet the needs of low-income residents in our footprint.  So, effective Monday, we are putting in place two substantial program enhancements to help these families deal with this crisis.
 
1.  We will make it even easier for low-income families who live in a Comcast service area to sign up by offering new customers 60 days of complimentary Internet Essentials service, which is normally available to all qualified low-income households for $9.95/month.
 
2.  Also, we are increasing Internet speeds for the Internet Essentials service from 15/2 Mbps to 25/3 Mbps for all new and existing customers, which will be the speed of the service going forward.  In this way, we will ensure that Internet Essentials customers will be able to use their Internet service for all their increased needs as a result of this health crisis.
 
We want to make it as fast and simple as possible to access this service:
 
  • To receive the increased Internet speeds, existing customers will not need to do anything.  The new speeds will be rolled out nationally over the next few days.
  • We'll send all new customers a free self-install kit that includes a cable modem with a Wi-Fi router.  There will be no term contract or credit check and no shipping fee.
  • To sign up, applicants can simply visit www.internetessentials.com.  The accessible website also includes the option to video chat with customer service agents in American Sign Language.  There are also two dedicated phone numbers 1-855-846-8376 for English and 
    1-855-765-6995 for Spanish.
 
We're also reaching out to our thousands of governmental and nonprofit partners to help us spread the word.  Our hope is that broader access and faster speeds will help all of our Internet Essentials customers more easily work from home, access educational resources, obtain important government health care alerts, and stay in contact with their families during this difficult time.
Learn more about steps Comcast is taking over the next 60 days. 
For more information: Lyndsay Moyer | [email protected]
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Wells FargoWells
Wells Fargo Donates $6.25 Million to Aid in Coronavirus Response
Philanthropic support to help with fast-emerging needs in U.S. and globally; customers facing hardships can reach out to the company
Corporate Social Responsibility
March 8, 2020
SAN FRANCISCO--( BUSINESS WIRE)--The Wells Fargo Foundation today announced up to $6.25 million in donations to support domestic and global response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and to aid public health relief efforts. The philanthropic funding includes $1 million for the CDC Foundation and $250,000 to the International Medical Corps for their work in more than 30 countries. The company will also donate up to $5 million at the local level to help address community-specific needs in the coming months.
In addition, Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is committed to helping customers experiencing hardships, including from the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). If in need of assistance, customers can call 1-800-219-9739 to speak with a trained specialist to discuss options available for their consumer lending, small business and deposit products.
"We recognize and appreciate the role of front-line health care providers as they apply their expertise on this fast-moving issue and care for the well-being of our communities," said Bill Daley, vice chairman of public affairs at Wells Fargo and chairman of the board of the Wells Fargo Foundation. "We also continue to monitor this situation closely for our employees, customers and the communities we serve and are prepared to adapt as needed."
The CDC Foundation will use the donation to meet emerging needs, including additional support for state and local health departments, the global response, logistics, communications, data management, personal protective equipment, and critical response supplies, among other necessities.
The International Medical Corps has more than 7,000 public health workers deployed against the coronavirus response across the globe and will utilize its donation to bolster staff training with clinical guidance and planning protocols on screening patients, enhanced infection prevention and control, and protections for health care providers.
Wells Fargo has also activated assistance for employees via its WE Care Fund, which provides grants to Wells Fargo colleagues who face a catastrophic disaster or financial hardship resulting from an event beyond their control. This program is available to those affected by coronavirus and is intended to help team members, especially those with limited resources, get back on their feet with basic necessities.
Wells Fargo recognizes the seriousness of concerns felt by customers and employees about the coronavirus COVID-19. The company's first priority remains keeping Wells Fargo employees and customers safe and well informed, while continuing to meet the needs of its customers.
About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.9 trillion in assets. Wells Fargo's vision is to satisfy our customers' financial needs and help them succeed financially. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through 7,400 locations, more than 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 32 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 260,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 29 on Fortune's 2019 rankings of America's largest corporations. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at  Wells Fargo Stories.
For more information: Marie Day | [email protected]
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T-MobileTMobile
As COVID-19 continues to affect communities across the country, I wanted to take the time to provide an update on what T-Mobile is doing to ensure the continuity of our network and to protect the health and safety of our customers and employees.

T-Mobile is aware that customers depend on our network to connect with family, loved ones and service providers, which is why we took several steps, effective March 13, to keep our customers connected:
  • All current T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers who have plans with data will have unlimited smartphone data for 60 days (excluding roaming).
  • Soon T-Mobile will provide T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers an additional 20GB of mobile hotspot/tethering service for 60 days.
  • T-Mobile is working with our Lifeline partners to provide customers free extra data up to 5GB of data per month for 60 days.
  • T-Mobile is also increasing the data allowance, free of charge, to schools and students using our EmpowerED digital learning programs to ensure each participant has access to at least 20GB of data per month for 60 days.
  • Additionally, T-Mobile is offering free international calling for all current T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers to Level 3 impacted countries.
In addition to these efforts, last week T-Mobile signed on to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's Keep Americans Connected Pledge, in which companies make a pledge that  includes to:
  • Not terminate service to any residential or small business customers because of their inability to pay their bills due to 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.

Thanks to the FCC, we are also rapidly expanding our network capacity for customers with compatible devices for the next 60 days by deploying 600 MHz spectrum from multiple licensees in many markets who have given us permission to utilize their spectrum during this emergency. We thank these licensees,  who include Bluewater, Channel 51, Comcast, DISH, Grain Management affiliate NewLevel, LLC, LB Holdings and Omega Wireless, LLC. FCC Chairman Pai has led the way for an industry-wide response with the Keep Americans Connected Pledge, and has approved these partnerships by Special Temporary Authority to help address critical broadband needs during this pandemic. We expect to rapidly place this additional spectrum into service within days to help keep our customers connected during this crisis.

We've also expanded roaming access for Sprint customers to use the T-Mobile network. With expanded roaming access tens of thousands of locations nationwide, schools and families connected to Sprint's network will have expanded coverage and capacity - including in rural areas - for 60 days, effective March 14.

As for efforts to further serve our customers and employees, please note that our T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile retail locations have increased cleaning and sanitization efforts and added more disinfecting wipes, soap and hand sanitizer.

T-Mobile is also encouraging employees who have the ability to work from home to do so through the end of the month. For those who are not able to work from home, we are providing flexible work schedules, among other forms of support.

Rest assured, T-Mobile will continue to closely monitor the situation and is committed to keeping our customers, employees and others informed as matters unfold. In the meantime, we encourage you to visit T-Mobile's newsroom where you can find additional details on our response to COVID-19.

Please reach out if you have any questions.

Thanks,
Lauren Neill  
Senior Siting Advocacy Manager 
Central Region
For more information: Lauren Neill | [email protected]
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CLA Management Contacts
President  | Tim Barnes | 571-243-6530 |  email
Political, Communications & Policy Director  | Ben Cannatti | 202-297-9121 | email

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