Craig has a new role?

Happy Friday, V Team! On today’s edition of Up To Speed Live, host Adi Wineland kicked off the episode with a video from Craig Silliman – our EVP, Chief Administrative, Legal, Public Policy Officer – who had a special message for our summer 2022 interns.

Adi also shared the following updates:

• Monday: We shared some ways our BOLD ERG commemorated Juneteenth, as well as some great gift deals for Father’s Day.
• Tuesday: We celebrated V Teamer Jason Aronne and his surrogacy journey to fatherhood with his husband through our parental leave and family-reimbursement policy.
• Wednesday: We shared the latest episode of Entérate con Verizon, featuring our involvement with the Sueños Music Festival, a virtual concert by Sebastián Yatra, and the story of a first-generation V Team graduate.
• Thursday: George Talks Tech returned with a breakdown of our latest Home Internet plan and the newest Fios perks.

Governors Ball music festival

This past weekend, Governors Ball Music Festival returned to Citi Field for its 11th edition, hosting tens of thousands of New Yorkers and global attendees.

Representing more than 60 percent of event attendees, Verizon customers used 14.5 terabytes of data over the three days, marking a 38 percent increase from last year. (For context, 14.5 TB of data is roughly equivalent to one person streaming nearly 3 million songs, or enough music to play nonstop for more than 10 years.)

Verizon Business Mastercard

Verizon Business recently announced that it’s teaming up with Mastercard and First National Bank of Omaha on the brand-new Verizon Business Mastercard, designed with small-business owners in mind.

If you’re an existing Verizon Business wireless customer with fewer than 100 lines and an online account, you’ll be eligible to apply, with cardholders earning rewards on everyday business purchases.

Black Business Ready Panel

Speaking of small businesses, State Government Affairs (SGA) this week hosted the Black Business Ready Panel, featuring SGA and CSR representatives, as well as Chicago baker and entrepreneur Johnathon Bush.

Discussion topics included their connections to Juneteenth, empowerment of small businesses, and Verizon’s commitment to championing economic freedom.

DACA 10-year anniversary letter

In the spirit of the recent 10th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, Verizon joined 46 other companies in signing a letter addressed to Congress in support of the program.

The letter urged lawmakers to pass bipartisan legislation that provides Dreamers with permanent legal status to allow Dreamers to continue living and working in the country without fear of deportation.

Committed to a strong economy, Verizon supports Dreamers, who make essential contributions to America’s economic wellbeing and are vital to the workforce.

Expanding our expand 5G Ultra Wideband availability

Along with strategic partner Ericsson, Verizon announced it has completed a 5G data session using CBRS General Authorized Access (GAA) spectrum.

It’s the latest example of how Verizon and our vendors are ready to support 5G on both shared and Priority Access License (PAL) CBRS spectrum, which will supplement Verizon’s current deployment of 5G service over C-band and mmWave spectrum.

With 5G Ultra Wideband data usage having increased by 249 percent, the expansion of 5G service onto this spectrum band will help meet customers’ future needs.

A look ahead

Be sure to tune into Up To Speed this Monday at noon ET, when our Senior Vice President of Talent and Diversity, Christina Schelling, will be talking about Verizon’s Talent GPS platform.

In the meantime, we hope you’ll find a moment this weekend to celebrate your favorite dads (or father figures) and reflect on Juneteenth.

See you Monday, V Team!

If you have any questions, email them to live@verizon.com.

Click here for a transcript of the webcast.

Tell us what you think of Up To Speed.

V Team, go to VZWeb to join the conversation