What to do if your internet goes down while you're working from home

Using your smartphone as a WiFi hotspot is quickest method with the highest likelihood to get you back on the internet right there and then.

On iPhone, here's how to set up a mobile WiFi hotspot.

For most Android phones, you can swipe down the notifications shade from the top of the screen and look for an icon that says "Mobile Hotspot." Tap and hold that icon and you're brought to a menu where you can change the password for your phone's WiFi hotspot feature.

AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, and several regional and smaller carriers are participating in a pledge drawn up by the FCC to "Keep Americans Connected."

The pledge means that for the next 60 days, a participating carrier should:

• Not terminate service to any residential or small business customers because of their inability to pay their bills due to the 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
• Open its Wi-Fi hotspots to any American who needs them

T-Mobile is giving all its customers, as well as Metro by T-Mobile customers, unlimited data for the next 60 days.

It's also giving its customers, including Metro by T-Mobile customers, an extra 20GB of mobile hotspot service for the next 60 days.

T-Mobile's Lifeline discount service for low-income househols are getting an extra 5G of data per month free for the next 2 months.

The company is also increasing the data allowance to schools and students using T-Mobile's EmpowerED digital learning program to at least 20GB of data per month for the next 60 days, free of charge.

If your WiFi router needed a simple unplug and re-plug treatment, then great!

It that doesn't work, it could mean your internet service provider is facing an outage of some sort. You can try calling them, but don't expect too much help. The company is likely aware of an outage and is working to fix it.

Working from home is unusual for most people, so it calls for unusual circumstances and backups. Carriers offer dedicated hotspot devices that basically act the same as your phone's WiFi hotspot feature.

By using the same 4G LTE networks as your smartphone, these mobile hotspots broadcast a WiFi network that your devices can connect to. They do require their own SIM cards and data plans, on top of your smartphone bill — which means mobile hotspots can cost a pretty penny.

Propose to your employer that they compensate you for an unlimited wireless data plan and a mobile hotspot, at least during the time you're working from home. If a constant connection is important to you and your employer, it could be worth the investment from both parties.