Does AT&T Really Not Stand Behind Their IP and Wireless Services? Don’t Read the Fine Print.
AT&T has filed in CA to remove the “carrier of last resort” obligations required as the state telecom public utility to make sure that everyone in their franchise area can at least get basic voice phone service. At last count there were over 2 million ‘wireline’ ‘residential’, ‘voice’, ‘switch-access’ customers on the aging copper wires; (As we point out, there are most likely an additional 4-8 million more lines that are hidden.)
https://lnkd.in/eG-4hJrT
AT&T claims that they should be able to shut off these wires because; “Fixed and mobile broadband services are not only reasonable alternatives to POTS; they are in fact technologically superior and available at comparable or lower prices.”
Our position: AT&T failed to upgrade the state utilities it controls over the last 3 decades and the copper wires should have been replaced with ‘infrastructure’ – i.e., a fiber optic wire, because state laws were changed to charge customers for these upgrades.
Phone and broadband services are not supposed to be play-toys of the phone company but supply essential services, with a quality, secure connection. And these conditions violate basic customer protections standards in state laws.
1) No Guarantee with IP Voice Service. “Since voice over IP is dependent on the IP network, the availability of an adequate power supply, and correct Equipment configuration, AT&T does not guarantee that AT&T U-verse Voice service will be continuous or error-free.
“You acknowledge and understand that AT&T cannot guarantee that voice over IP communication is completely secure.”
2) 911 Calls May be interrupted or not go through. “AT&T MAKES NO WARRANTY THAT AT&T U-VERSE VOICE SERVICE FOR ACCESS TO 911 WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE…” (Their caps, not ours)
3) AT&T IP-no guarantee that your fire or burglar alarm, or medical monitoring device works. “YOU USE AT&T U-VERSE VOICE SERVICE AT YOUR OWN RISK AND WAIVE ANY CLAIM AGAINST AT&T FOR INTERFERENCE WITH OR DISRUPTION OF A MONITORED FIRE ALARM OR BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEM, A MEDICAL MONITORING DEVICE, OR….”
4) Zero Commitment to wireless AT&T Internet Air speed -“AT&T makes absolutely no commitment with respect to the speeds AT&T Internet Air will be able to achieve in a particular location. To maximize performance, every effort should be made to position the AT&T Equipment in the optimal position…”
4) You can’t take AT&T to court: “Please read this Agreement carefully. It requires you and AT&T to resolve disputes through arbitration on an individual basis rather than jury trials or class actions.”
Superior Services or violations of consumer protections guaranteed by quality of service requirements?
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