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Quick Answer: Verizon’s January 14, 2026 nationwide outage knocked out service for millions for about 10 hours, leaving phones stuck in “SOS” mode. Verizon later blamed a software issue and offered $20 credits, while the FCC opened a formal investigation and Congress demanded briefings over concerns about 911 access and public safety agencies relying on the network. A smaller second outage was reported in August 2026.

Quick Answer: Yale Assure Lock 2 is the best smart lock overall in 2026, balancing price, 250-code capacity, and no required subscription at $180-$260. Schlage offers the highest security grade (ANSI Grade 1) and Apple Home Key support at $200-$330. August is the best option for renters, retrofitting over an existing deadbolt in about 20 minutes without any permanent hardware changes.

Quick Answer: Ring is the best video doorbell overall in 2026, with the widest model lineup and the cheapest subscription at $4.99/month. Google Nest is best for Google Home households, with free 3-hour recorded history, though its subscription (now Google Home Premium) rose 25-33% in August 2026. Arlo delivers the best video quality but its cheapest subscription has risen roughly 165% in two years, from $2.99 to $7.99/month.

Quick Answer: Starlink is the best rural internet option overall in 2026, with unlimited data, no contract, and low latency starting at $55/month. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is cheaper where available, from $35-70/month, but coverage depends on local tower capacity. HughesNet is the most affordable satellite option at $39.99-94.99/month but requires a 2-year contract and enforces data caps. Viasat’s Unleashed plan avoids a hard cap and contract but costs more after its introductory period.