Cellphone Archives | Citizens Utility Board

AT&T’s response to last week’s nationwide outage

Elizabeth — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 21:01:20 +0000

Last week, AT&T’s cellular outage lasted several hours and impacted customers nationwide. AT&T has come out since then with an apology and reassurance that the outage was a result of “the application and execution of an incorrect process used as we were expanding our network, not a cyberattack.” They plan to give affected customers a $5 bill credit to remedy the outage, which roughly translates as the average cost of a full day of service. This credit will be applied to customers’ bills in the next 1-2 billing cycles. A CUB staffer got this text over the weekend: AT&T clarified that they have no evidence or reason to believe that any customer data was compromised during the event. CUB asks Illinois consumers– is this enough? Read more: USA Today: AT&T ‘making it right’ with $5 credit to customers after last week’s hours long outage Bloomberg: AT&T Customers to Get Billing Credit After Wireless Outage CNBC: In a letter to employees, AT&T CEO apologizes for widespread outage, says some customers will receive credits

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Phone companies to phase out 3G in 2022 – what you need to know

Hannah — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 14:20:05 +0000

Cellphone companies are shutting down their 3G networks over the next several months. As a result, many older cellphones will not be able to make or receive calls or texts, including dialing 911. If you have a 3G phone, you may need to replace your device. The phase-out will start as early as Jan. 1, 2022, though plans and timing to phase out 3G services will vary by company and may change, the FCC said. Consult your mobile provider’s website for the most up-to-date information. AT&T announced that it will finish shutting down its 3G network by February 2022. Verizon will wrap up its 3G network shutdown by December 31, 2022. T-Mobile announced that it will complete the shutdown of Sprint’s 3G network by March 31, 2022 and Sprint’s 4G LTE network by June 30, 2022. It also announced it will shut down T-Mobile’s 3G network by July 1, 2022. If your mobile carrier is not listed here, you may still be affected. Other carriers such as Cricket, Boost and Straight Talk utilize these networks. 3G is the third generation of wireless mobile technology that allows mobile phones to connect to the internet. Each new generation has new frequency bands and higher data transmission rates. Most phones now use 4G and 5G. This switch will affect 3G mobile phones and certain older 4G mobile phones that do not support Voice Over LTE or HD Voice. This could potentially impact other devices that also rely on 3G networks, such as medical devices, tablets, smart watches and home security systems. If you do not replace or upgrade your device, your device will not function. If you have a 3G device, don’t panic, but don’t procrastinate. Contact your carrier about getting a newer version of the device or a software upgrade. If you are unsure if your device uses 3G networks, check the device’s user manual, consult the network settings on your device or contact the company.

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The dos and don’ts of robocalls

Sophia — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 19:17:21 +0000

Do you get several calls a day from “Scam Likely?” That probably means your number is targeted by robocalls–prerecorded messages from computer generated dialers. Robocalls are irritating, costly, and often illegal. In fact, the call blocking app TrueCaller found that consumers had already lost nearly $30 billion in the first part of the year, with robocalls estimated to reach 52 billion calls in 2021. So what can you do? The easiest way to avoid falling victim to scammers is to decline calls from unknown numbers and never give out your personal information. If someone is genuinely trying to reach you, they will most likely leave a voicemail. Here are a few of CUB’s do’s and don’ts when it comes to robocalls: Do: Confirm you’re on the National Do Not Call Registry The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers a free Do Not Call registry where consumers can register their phone numbers to reduce calls from telemarketers. Remember, robocallers that are selling something need to get your prior written approval to call you, so if you didn’t give your OK, the sales call you’re receiving is illegal. True, the registry won’t block scammers that flaunt the rules, but it will block all the telemarketers that do follow the restrictions—and that’s still a lot. To register your number, visit www.donotcall.gov, or call 1-888-382-1222 from the number you would like to register. Don’t: Say “yes” Some scammers will try to trick you into saying “yes” by asking questions like “can you hear me now?” They will then use that recording as proof that you agreed to a costly deal you never wanted. If you find yourself on the line with an automated messenger, the best thing to do is hang up. Do: Use your phone’s features to your advantage If you receive a robocall, you can block that number from ever calling you again. Additionally, your phone may offer spam-blocking services. Turning this feature on will automatically decline calls from unknown numbers. Lastly, turning on the Do Not Disturb feature will send all of your calls directly to voicemail. This way, you can monitor who called you through voicemails or you can allow for only your contacts to get through. For instructions on how to use spam protection click here for Apple iPhones and here for Google Androids. Don’t: Call the number back You may have the urge to call the number back to give the scam artist an earful. However, calling them back might lead to an increase in calls you receive since scammers now know your phone number is active. It’s best to simply block that number from calling you again. If you get harassed by robocalls, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by visiting FTC.gov/complaint and click on the FTC Complaint Assistant icon, or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP. For full tips, order CUB’s robocalls guide.

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CUB releases new guide to help Illinois consumers shop phone market

Hannah — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 16:46:28 +0000

The Citizens Utility Board announced that it has released a new “Guide to Phone Choices” to help Illinois consumers navigate their options in the telecom market. Visit CitizensUtilityBoard.org to order a free copy of the 16-page publication, which includes information about selecting cellphone, landline and VoIP service. The phone landscape has shifted dramatically over the last decade. Traditional landlines have largely been replaced by VoIP, smartphones, bundled offers and Zoom. Tech giants seem as powerful as ever, and as a result, consumers face tough choices and high price tags. A family of four can easily spend more than $200 a month on phone service. When shopping for phone options, consumers need good information. That’s where CUB’s Guide to Phone Choices comes in. The booklet also includes helpful sections on whether or not bundling is a good deal, dialing 911, calling internationally and videoconferencing. “We know that Illinois consumers—and even CUB staffers—can get overwhelmed by all the factors to consider when selecting phone service,” CUB Executive Director David Kolata said. “This guide gives consumers the tools they need to make the right decisions for their lifestyle and wallet.”

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Why CUB continues the fight for landlines

Hannah — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 19:04:00 +0000

Can you count on your cellphone carrier to save your life? When you dial 911 from a cellphone, most consumers may expect dispatchers to immediately know their location. However, current Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules only require your carrier to provide location data that is accurate within 50-300 meters, according to Safety.com. And the regulator only requires location data of 70 percent of calls. In an emergency situation where a person in distress cannot talk, for whatever reason, precious minutes and seconds may be spent searching a 1,000-foot area that could be spent addressing the emergency. Currently, 911 operators are not always able to pinpoint the exact location of an emergency call from a cellphone, which they are able to do with a landline call. As CUB likes to remind consumers, traditional phone service doesn’t need to be charged, and it doesn’t leave 911 dispatchers guessing. According to Safety.com, recent updates to the Android and iPhone operating systems have improved smartphones’ ability to share more exact locations with dispatchers, “but this technology doesn’t cover non-smart phones or ones that are out of date.” A new emergency response system — Next Generation 911, often referred to as NG911 or Enhanced 911 — is emerging to correct the location issues with cellphone 911 calls. The new system will offer advanced mapping and location services, and consumers will be able to text 911 and send images and video to dispatchers as well. The state is working its way toward Next Generation 911. Last year, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that Illinois would receive a $5.3 million grant to upgrade 911 call centers to Next Generation 911 capabilities. However, NG911 isn’t accessible everywhere yet, and until then, traditional landlines remain the most reliable and most accurate in the case of an emergency. To verify if your community has Next Generation 911, contact your local police station using its non-emergency number. If you have to call 911, keep these tips in mind. Use a landline phone to dial, if available. As soon as someone answers, provide your exact location and explain what type of assistance is needed. The quicker you can provide vital information, the sooner help can arrive. Remain calm and speak clearly. Your mobile connection may be spotty, and background noise could impede communication as well.

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We have a winner from our cellphone survey!

Matt — Fri, 02 Jun 2017 15:29:11 +0000

Congratulations to Jane from Northbrook, who was selected to get $50 off her cellphone bill after taking our cellphone survey about what parts of cellphone service were most frustrating. Her response when told she had been selected? “My husband and I are members of CUB! We have been so happy that they have looked out 24/7 for consumers! They go to bat for us all! Thanks! Make sure you join today to help them achieve even more success in the future!” Thank you for your support Jane! Want to know how to lower your cellphone bill? Check out our fact sheets: CUB’s cellphone shopper’s guide and CUB’s guide to cellphone data plans

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LAST CHANCE to get $50 off your cellphone bill!

Matt — Wed, 31 May 2017 21:04:52 +0000

If you haven’t gotten a chance to take our survey about cellphone company satisfaction, this is your last opportunity. As a thank you for participating, one person will be randomly selected to get $50 off their cellphone bill! Act now—what’s the most annoying thing about your cellphone plan?

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POLL: What’s most annoying about cellphone service?

Samantha — Tue, 09 May 2017 16:09:24 +0000

As it tries to pass legislation that would lead to the end of traditional landline service, AT&T is pushing phone alternatives that tend to be less reliable and more expensive, such as wireless service. Tell us what you find most annoying about your cellphone service by Wednesday, May 31, and you could be randomly selected to win $50 off your next cellphone bill. QUICK POLL: What is your biggest complaint about your cellphone service?

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CUB featured on WGN-TV

Matt — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 19:51:53 +0000

WGN news last night ran a story that featured CUB’s petition to the Federal Communications Commission to ask for protections for cellphone data customers. The story profiles several customers receiving exorbitant bills for data overages, when they said they barely used their data at all. If you haven’t already, sign our petition asking for protections for wireless customers and receive a copy of our newly-updated guide to cellphone data!

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Act now! Fight irritating, illegal robocalls

Samantha — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 20:51:04 +0000

Today, CUB asked Illinois consumers to sign a petition to fight illegal “robocalls.” It’s the perfect time to take action, now that Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler has urged big phone companies to give customers free technology to block these computer-generated telemarketing calls. We’re all annoyed by these calls, but they’re more than just a nuisance. Consumers Union estimates that scam artists use robocalls to help them rob people of $350 million a year. After years of foot-dragging, maybe the industry is finally ready to take substantive action. In response to Wheeler, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson announced he would lead a “strike force” against robocalling. Wheeler urged other phone companies to get involved and produce a plan to combat robocalls in 60 days. Let’s make sure Illinois’ big phone companies (AT&T, Verizon, Frontier) know we’re watching, and we expect results. Sign CUB’s petition and turn the heat up on Big Telecom.

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