AT&T outage causing phones to be stuck on โSOS modeโ: Hereโs what that means
Attention AT&T customers! A nationwide service outage has left thousands of users without cell phone service. ๐ฑ๐ต If you're experiencing the dreaded "SOS mode" on your iPhone, don't panic! This simply means you don't have a proper cellular connection. You can still contact emergency services via the cellular network. ๐๐
Over 60,000 customers affected by AT&T, Verizon and Cricket Wireless outages: How to stay connected
Cellular outages are causing disruptions for over 60,000 customers on AT&T, Cricket Wireless, Verizon, Verizon, and other service providers. ๐ต If you're experiencing difficulties contacting someone in an emergency, here are some tips to keep in mind. Remember to stay patient as providers work to fix the issue. ๐ฑ๐ช
Ask Amy show notes: Utility work in neighborhoods & your rights
Itโs a complaint we hear frequently. Utility companies work in neighborhoods and leave damage or a mess behind. What can you do? Can companies just come to your property? In this week's Ask Amy episode, we've got answers to some of your questions about utility work in neighborhoods in our area.
Electric company fined $1.7 million for sticking customers with inaccurate bills for thousands of dollars
The Texas Public Utility Commission is fining Texas New Mexico Power $1.7 million dollars for its failure to upgrade its electric meters before the 3G network it relied on was taken down.KPRC 2 Investigates has reported the problems caused by the outdated meters for months.
KPRC 2 Investigates surprise phone number switch
These days, wherever you go you can take your phone number with you, even if you switch phone carriers. Itโs pretty common and an easy way to keep up with old contacts. Thatโs why a Cypress man was shocked when his phone company disconnected his number and reassigned it to someone else. The number is essential for his business. He called our KPRC 2 Investigates team for help.
KPRC 2 Investigates: Residents fed up with bad cellphone coverage in Montgomery County neighborhood
People in one growing area in Montgomery County say they have a huge problem. They can't get cellphone service in their neighborhood. This issue is going on for customers who use various cellphone providers and they say nothing is being done to fix this. KPRC 2 Investigator Bill Spencer met with neighbors in the Woodforest area and works to get answers.
Spring woman says 5G cable installation left her with raw sewage in her home; Sheโs now $20K deep in debt
When AT&T tried to expand its 5G network by installing fiber optic cable underground, a Spring woman says she was left with broken pipes, broken promises, and on top of all that, now sheโs broke.
Ask Amy: What to do if utility crews damage your property or leave a mess behind
What happens if utility crews leave a big mess behind in your yard? One viewer can't get ahold of anyone to help after utility work crews damaged his property. Amyย Davis is getting answers and explains what you can do if your neighborhood is dealing with a similar issue.
EXPLAINER: Will burglar alarms still work after 3G shutdown?
As telecom companies rev up the newest generation of mobile service, called 5G, theyโre shutting down old networks โ a costly, years-in-the-works process thatโs now prompting calls for a delay because a lot of products out there still rely on the old standard, 3G.
EXPLAINER: Why airlines fear 5G will upend travel this week
The airline industry is raising the stakes in a showdown with AT&T and Verizon over plans to launch new 5G wireless service this week, warning that thousands of flights could be grounded or delayed if the rollout takes place near major airports.
Dems: Discovery, AT&T merger will hurt diversity, workers
House Democrats are raising concerns that the proposed merger of Discovery and AT&Tโs WarnerMedia, a $43 billion effort to conquer the world of streaming, could affect diversity efforts in Hollywood and particularly hurt Latinos, who are already deeply underrepresented.
KPRC 2 Investigates: Utility tower near property causes complaints
Many of us have been there, when a utility company comes onto our property to access a cable box or lines and wires buried underground. You have to let utility companies have access to the easement. And in one case our KPRC 2 Investigates team is looking into, it's really David versus Goliath situation.
KPRC 2 Investigates: Cable company leaves mess in yard, dog injured
It shouldnโt take KPRC 2 Investigates to get a cable company to clean up after themselves, but thatโs exactly why a Pearland woman called our team for help. For two months sheโs been trying to get AT&T to bury a cable it left in her yard. The cables are not just annoying but also dangerous after her dog ended up needing surgery because of the mess.
EXPLAINER: California's net neutrality law springs to life
In response, seven states and Puerto Rico enacted their own net neutrality policies. In response, seven states and Puerto Rico enacted their own net neutrality policies. Nine states have introduced net neutrality bills this session, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Ad___WHAT TELCOS WANTBig telecom companies hate the stricter regulation that comes with the net neutrality rules and have fought them fiercely in court. They say they prefer a national approach to a state-by-state one, but the industry has fought prior federal net neutrality rules.
Brisket among 5 things Texans favor most, survey says
HOUSTON โ Ever wondered about Texasโ favorite things? In a survey by AT&Tโs The Wave, they used reputable online sources for lists of each stateโs popular characteristics, such as favorite YouTube channels, favorite food, and favorite tourist attractions. For Texas, brisket topped as the must-try food in the state, while the San Antonio Riverwalk was most loved by tourists. (KSAT)The Dallas Cowboys became the top sports team for Texas, New Mexico and Arkansas. Reggaeton artist Maluma became the top musician for Texans on YouTube.
SEC suing AT&T for telling analysts nonpublic information
FILE - In this Oct. 24, 2016, file photo, the AT&T logo is positioned above one of its retail stores in New York. The Securities and Exchange Commission is suing AT&T and three of its investor relations executives for telling Wall Street analysts about the telecom giant's sales data before it released quarterly results. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)The Securities and Exchange Commission is suing AT&T and three of its investor relations executives for telling Wall Street analysts about the telecom giant's sales data before it released quarterly results. The early warning helped AT&T avoid having its results fall short of Wall Street expectations, according to the SEC's complaint filed in Manhattan federal court. Dallas-based AT&T said in a statement that it did not tell analysts โmaterial nonpublic information" and that it will fight the lawsuit.
AT&T spinning off DirecTV after losing millions of customers
AT&T is spinning off its DirecTV into a new company at a fraction of the $48.5 billion it paid in 2015. The satellite TV service has lost millions of customers on AT&T's watch. (AP Photo/File)AT&T is spinning off its DirecTV into a new company for a fraction of the $48.5 billion it paid for the satellite TV service in 2015. DirecTV has lost millions of customers on AT&Tโs watch, and is valued in the deal at just $16.25 billion, including debt. The new DirecTV company will include AT&T TV, a streaming version of cable TV, and U-verse, AT&T's older cable service.
A Texas lawmaker worked with the state restaurant association to draft an alcohol-to-go bill. His wife lobbies for the group.
Texas lawmakers are pushing to permanently allow restaurants to sell alcohol for pickup and delivery orders, which Gov. The Texas Restaurant Association, which is backing the legislation, paid Ellmer between $25,000 and $49,000 for lobbying work from September through December, according to the Texas Ethics Commission. โThe real issue is that Texasโ ethics law is weak,โ Shelley said. According to the TRA, 700,000 restaurant employees in Texas lost their jobs in the early days the pandemic, and more than 10,000 Texas restaurants have already closed. With business hampered due to continued increases in infections, 30% of Texas restaurant operators still in business said in December they were concerned about the fate of their operations.
Report: Companies donated $170M to GOP election objectors
Giving by such trade groups and corporate PACs has come under intense scrutiny in the wake of the deadly insurrection by Trump supporters, who stormed the Capitol to stop the vote. Giving by corporate PACs and trade groups to individual candidates is limited to $5,000 per candidate each year, thus making up a small portion of each person's overall cash haul. Boeing said Wednesday that it is โnot making political contributions at this timeโ and will โcarefully evaluateโ who receives future donations. Meanwhile, 46 of the PACs gave to at least half of the Republican objectors, the report found. Tanglis and other campaign finance experts say the big question about donations is whether companies and trade groups will stick by their pledges.
This $25 per month prepaid cell phone plan can help you save some money
CNET found a somewhat secret prepaid plan from AT&T. Itโs best for people who donโt need unlimited data. The plan is $25 a month, but you have to pay for a full year in advance. Thatโll cost about $300, which is much less than a regular plan. You must select a multi-month plan to find this option because the default setting doesnโt show it.
Nashville bombing spotlights vulnerable voice, data networks
The Christmas Day bombing in downtown Nashville led to communications outages over hundreds of miles in the southern U.S., raising concerns about the vulnerability of U.S. networks. The blast seriously damaged a key AT&T network facility, an important hub that provides local wireless, internet and video service and connects to regional networks. AT&T customers lost service โ phones, internet or video โ across large parts of Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama. At some hospitals, electronic medical records, internet service or phones stopped working. It's not as if the physical vulnerability of communications networks comes as a surprise.
The Latest: Driver charged after truck stopped in Tennessee
The Tennessee Highway Patrol has said a robot was sent to investigate the truck and no device was found. The company suffered widespread outages in Tennessee and other states after a bomb in a recreational vehicle exploded near one of its facilities in downtown Nashville. Sheriffโs officials said the truck had been playing the audio when it was parked at a convenience store around 10:30 a.m. at the Crossroads Market in Walter Hill. Sheriff's officials did not specify what the box truck was playing. ___1:15 p.m.Nashville Police say a Tennessee man named Anthony Quinn Warner is under investigation in connection with the Christmas Day bombing that rocked downtown Nashville.
US officials: Suspect in Nashville explosion died in blast
Federal officials now turn to exploring the monumental task of piecing together the motive behind the Christmas Day explosion that severely damaged dozens of buildings and injured three in downtown Nashville, Tenn. While officials have named 63-year-old Warner as the man behind the mysterious explosion in which he was killed, the motive has remained elusive. (Courtesy of FBI via AP)NASHVILLE, Tenn. โ The man believed to be responsible for the Christmas Day bombing that tore through downtown Nashville blew himself up in the explosion, and appears to have acted alone, federal officials said Sunday. โNashville is considered safe," said Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake. Officials said their identification of Warner relied on several key pieces of evidence, including DNA found at the explosion site.
FBI at home of possible person of interest in Nashville bomb
FBI and ATF agents investigate a home Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. An explosion that shook the largely deserted streets of downtown Nashville early Christmas morning shattered windows, damaged buildings, and wounded three people. Asked whether the AT&T building could have been a possible target, Korneski said, โWeโre looking at every possible motive that could be involved." Mayor John Cooper has enforced a curfew in the downtown area until Sunday via executive order to limit public access to the area. โWe have two portable cell sites operating in downtown Nashville with numerous additional portable sites being deployed in the Nashville area and in the region.โRay Neville, president of technology at T-Mobile, said on Twitter that service disruptions affected Louisville, Nashville, Knoxville, Birmingham and Atlanta. The outages had even briefly grounded flights at the Nashville International Airport, but service was continuing normally as of Saturday.
Human remains found near site of Nashville explosion, officials say
(Metro Nashville PD via AP)NASHVILLE โ A recreational vehicle parked in the deserted streets of downtown Nashville exploded early Christmas morning, causing widespread communications outages that took down police emergency systems and grounded holiday travel at the cityโs airport. Police were responding to a report of shots fired Friday when they encountered the RV blaring a recorded warning that a bomb would detonate in 15 minutes, Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake said. โThis morningโs attack on our community was intended to create chaos and fear in this season of peace and hope. Police believe the blast was intentional but donโt yet know a motive or target, and Drake noted that officials had not received any threats before the explosion. The Federal Aviation Administration temporarily halted flights out of Nashville International Airport because of telecommunications issues associated with the explosion.
Pandemic hurts AT&T in 3rd quarter; wireless unit stable
NEW YORK โ The pandemic continued to hit AT&T through the third quarter as closed theaters, wary U.S. moviegoers and the Hollywood shutdown hurt its WarnerMedia movie and TV business. It added 131,000 prepaid phone customers and 645,000 postpaid phone customers, those who pay a regular monthly bill. It lost 590,000 โpremiumโ video customers, which includes DirecTV, in the latest quarter, and also dropped 37,000 customers of its streaming service, AT&T TV Now. The new HBO Max streaming service had 8.6 million activations. AT&T shares rose $1.73, or 6.5%, to $28.44 Thursday, which Goldman Sachs analyst Brett Feldman attributed to improved subscriber trends.
Asian shares, US futures gain after last Trump-Biden debate
Shares were mostly higher in Asia on Friday after President Donald Trump and his challenger former Vice President Joe Biden faced off in their second and final debate before the Nov. 3 election. โMeanwhile, discussion relevant to the post-election economic outlook was limited, particularly from President Trump." U.S. stock futures shifted from modest losses to less than 0.1% gains in the debate's aftermath. India's Sensex rose 0.3% and shares rose in Southeast Asia. Align Technology, which makes Invisalign teeth straighteners, surged 35% for the biggest gain in the S&P 500 after its earnings report blew past Wall Streetโs expectations.
Check out the โFRIENDSโ Central Perk pop-up in Texas
The ultimate โFRIENDSโ experience is now set up in Texas. Fans of the sitcom can now visit a Central Perk pop-up exhibit in downtown Dallas. The exhibit is a part of the AT&T Discovery District, a new downtown destination combining tech, culture and entertainment to create unique experiences. The โFRIENDSโ-themed pop-up features multiple settings and props from the show allowing fans to immerse themselves in the experience and recreate iconic โFriendsโ moments. For a limited time, fans can visit the site within the AT&T Experience Store.
'Jaws,' 'Black Panther' and more coming back to the drive-in
Jaws, Black Panther and Back to the Future are just a few of the modern popcorn classics coming to the drive-in this summer. Its in Tribecas DNA to bring people together in times of need, said Jane Rosenthal, Tribeca Enterprises and Tribeca Film Festival co-founder and CEO. We dont want to lose going to the movies, Tribeca CCO Paula Weinstein added. Other forms of mass entertainment have been jumping on the drive-in bandwagon too: Live Nation on Monday announced its first-ever drive-in concerts series in the U.S. for July. The Tribeca Drive-In series is not exclusively for movies either.
Job losses continue, suburbs appealing to homebuyers
Following are developments Wednesday related to the national and global response, the work place and the spread of the virus. Target is also giving out one-time bonuses of $200 to reward workers on the front lines of the coronavirus. TRAVEL: Shares of cruise operators are falling Wednesday as Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings announced it's extending its suspension of global cruise voyages to include all trips embarking between Aug. 1 and Sept. 30. The extension applies to all three cruise brands, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Time on market increased by 25% in rural areas, 30% in suburban areas and 35% in urban areas year-over-year.
AT&T is closing 250 stores and will layoff nearly 5,000 workers
AT&T is closing 250 stores and cutting several thousand jobs, according to one of its unions, which is criticizing the move. The Communications Workers of America says the job cuts will come to 3,400 technicians and clerical staff, as well as 1,300 additional workers at AT&T Mobility and Cricket Wireless stores. AT&T would not confirm the headcount reduction numbers cited by the CWA. AT&T's statement said it will also eliminate an undisclosed number of contract workers, most of whom are based outside the United States, as well as an undisclosed number of managers. Reducing our workforce is a difficult decision that we dont take lightly, said the company statement.
FCC calls hours-long T-Mobile service outage 'unacceptable'
NEW YORK The head of the U.S. communications regulator said T-Mobile's nationwide, hours-long outage Monday was unacceptable and that the Federal Communications Commission will investigate. T-Mobile, one of the country's three largest cellphone service providers, said it had a voice and text wireless issue" that began around noon EDT Monday. The company blamed an internet-traffic issue that caused problems with its network for the outage. But calls between their customers and T-Mobile customers could have run into trouble because of T-Mobiles issues, creating the impression of a widespread communications failure. T-Mobile paid a $17.5 million fine for two nationwide service outages on the same day in August 2014, which together lasted three hours and prevented customers from being able to call 911.
T-mobile says things are back to normal after nationwide outage
HOUSTON โ Cell service provider, T-mobile, experienced a nationwide outage Monday evening that was estimated to have affected hundreds of thousands of customers. โ Neville (@NevilleRay) June 16, 2020The Harris County Sheriffโs Office tweeted that 911 services were being affected during the outage. โWe were just advised there is a nationwide outage for @TMobileโs ability to make 911 calls. We were just advised there is a nationwide outage for @TMobileโs ability to make 911 calls. #HouNews โ HCSOTexas (@HCSOTexas) June 15, 2020HCSO officials told KPRC 2 that while the outage didnโt affect their call center, it did affect T-mobile customers who might try to call 911.
DPS Trooper fires gun at armed robbers in northwest Houston; search underway after suspects flee
HOUSTON โ A Department of Public Safety trooper fired his gun at three men who officials say were trying to rob an AT&T store in northwest Houston Wednesday afternoon. The gunshot did not strike any of the suspects and they fled the scene on foot, officials say. At about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, the trooper was working security at the store located at the 10650 Northwest Freeway, DPS officials said in a press conference. The trooper was in uniform when the accused approached the store and he โmade his presence knownโ and then โopened fireโ on the suspects, officials said. At least one of them was wearing a mask, officials say.