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AT&T announced late on Saturday its plans to offer billing credits to customers affected by a widespread wireless outage earlier in the week, aiming to address disruptions experienced by consumers across the United States.
Duration and Impact of the Outage:
The outage, which persisted for over 10 hours on Thursday, affected AT&T’s expansive 5G network, covering approximately 290 million individuals nationwide.
AT&T successfully restored wireless services late on Thursday, attributing the disruption to an incorrect process implementation during network expansion efforts.
Compensation for Affected Consumers:
In response to the outage, AT&T pledged to provide billing credits equivalent to the average cost of a full day of service to impacted consumers, acknowledging the frustration caused by the incident.
The telecommunications giant expressed its commitment to preventing similar incidents in the future, emphasizing ongoing efforts to enhance network stability and reliability.
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Regulatory Response and Investigation:
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) investigated the outage, while the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) collaborated with AT&T to identify the root cause. Despite initial assessments ruling out a cyber attack, both agencies are actively involved in understanding the incident’s underlying factors.
Reports surfaced on social media platforms indicating that the outage hindered individuals’ ability to access emergency services via 911, prompting concerns from government departments across various U.S. cities.
Historical Precedent and Regulatory Actions:
The outage draws comparisons to previous incidents, such as the June 2020 outage experienced by T-Mobile, which led to regulatory scrutiny and a $19.5 million settlement.
Regulatory findings highlighted the significant impact on emergency call services and the disruption’s widespread reach across telecommunications networks.
Customer Outreach and Communication:
Despite challenges in quantifying the exact number of affected customers, AT&T reiterated its commitment to transparency and customer support, emphasizing ongoing communication efforts to address concerns and provide updates on resolution measures.
