INSIDER
AT&T reaches tentative agreement with union to end work stoppage in Florida
Read full article: AT&T reaches tentative agreement with union to end work stoppage in FloridaAT&T announced that it reached a tentative agreement with the Communications Workers of America in District 3 in the Southeast, bringing the work stoppage to an end Monday morning.
NCAA approves Gallaudet's use of a helmet for deaf and hard of hearing players this season
Read full article: NCAA approves Gallaudet's use of a helmet for deaf and hard of hearing players this seasonThe NCAA has given full approval for Gallaudet's football team to use a helmet designed for players who are deaf or hard of hearing this season.
Dozens of AT&T employees in Jacksonville area strike over ‘unfair labor practices’ in recent contract negotiations
Read full article: Dozens of AT&T employees in Jacksonville area strike over ‘unfair labor practices’ in recent contract negotiationsDozens of AT&T employees in the Jacksonville area joined thousands of other workers across the Southeast in a strike Monday over “unfair labor practices” during recent contract negotiations.
FCC fines wireless carriers for sharing user locations without consent
Read full article: FCC fines wireless carriers for sharing user locations without consentThe Federal Communications Commission has leveraged nearly $200 million in fines against wireless carriers AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon for illegally sharing customers’ location data without their consent.
Correction: FCC-Net Neutrality story
Read full article: Correction: FCC-Net Neutrality storyIn a story published April 25, 2024, about the restoration of U.S. net neutrality rules for the internet, The Associated Press erroneously reported that the Federal Trade Commission voted to approve the rules.
AT&T says a data breach leaked millions of customers' information online. Were you affected?
Read full article: AT&T says a data breach leaked millions of customers' information online. Were you affected?The theft of sensitive information belonging to millions of AT&T’s current and former customers has been recently discovered online.
AT&T recognizes ‘frustration,’ offers customers $5 credit following hours-long nationwide outage
Read full article: AT&T recognizes ‘frustration,’ offers customers $5 credit following hours-long nationwide outageFollowing an hours-long nationwide outage last week, AT&T apologized to all of its impacted customers, recognized their frustration and offered them a $5 credit toward their account, according to a statement written on the company’s website.
Massive cell phone outage makes you wonder: Are we too reliant on our mobile devices?
Read full article: Massive cell phone outage makes you wonder: Are we too reliant on our mobile devices?Thursday’s nationwide outage affected thousands of Americans as wireless carriers such as AT&T, Cricket Wireless, Verizon and T-Mobile and other providers scrambled to fix the issue.
AT&T's network is having problems: What you should know while navigating a phone service outage
Read full article: AT&T's network is having problems: What you should know while navigating a phone service outageCustomers of AT&T, the country’s largest wireless provider, are reporting widespread outages.
AT&T wireless service restored for all affected customers after hours-long nationwide outage
Read full article: AT&T wireless service restored for all affected customers after hours-long nationwide outageAT&T says the hourslong outage to its U.S. cellphone network appeared to be the result of a technical error, not a malicious attack.
AT&T wireless service restored after hours-long nationwide outage; company apologizes to affected customers
Read full article: AT&T wireless service restored after hours-long nationwide outage; company apologizes to affected customersA number of Americans are dealing with cellular outages on AT&T, Cricket Wireless, Verizon, T-Mobile and other service providers, according to data from Downdetector.
These employees thought they found a good job opportunity. They think they found a scam instead.
Read full article: These employees thought they found a good job opportunity. They think they found a scam instead.What over 25 people thought was a great job opportunity for the New Year turned into an unplanned situation that they are calling a scam.
AT&T and Gallaudet University unveil a football helmet for deaf and hard of hearing quarterbacks
Read full article: AT&T and Gallaudet University unveil a football helmet for deaf and hard of hearing quarterbacksAT&T and Gallaudet University have developed a football helmet for quarterbacks who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Buttigieg warns airlines to finish retrofitting planes to avoid interference from 5G signals
Read full article: Buttigieg warns airlines to finish retrofitting planes to avoid interference from 5G signalsTransportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is warning airlines to be ready when wireless companies power up their 5G service next month.
Are you a former AT&T unlimited data plan customer? You might be eligible for a refund, the FTC says
Read full article: Are you a former AT&T unlimited data plan customer? You might be eligible for a refund, the FTC saysThe Federal Trade Commission on Thursday announced a new claims process to return money to thousands of former AT&T customers as a result of a $60 million settlement with AT&T.
Poor, less white US neighborhoods get worst internet deals
Read full article: Poor, less white US neighborhoods get worst internet dealsHaving a fast internet connection at home has become a near-requirement for many Americans, especially with the rise of remote education and working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Verizon, AT&T delay some 5G service over airlines' concerns
Read full article: Verizon, AT&T delay some 5G service over airlines' concernsVerizon and AT&T won't power up some wireless towers near airports until next summer to give airlines more time to make sure the new service won't interfere with planes.
EXPLAINER: Will burglar alarms still work after 3G shutdown?
Read full article: EXPLAINER: Will burglar alarms still work after 3G shutdown?As telecom companies rev up the newest generation of mobile service, called 5G, they’re shutting down old networks — a costly, years-in-the-works process that’s now prompting calls for a delay because a lot of products out there still rely on the old standard, 3G.
Airlines cancel some flights after reduced 5G rollout in US
Read full article: Airlines cancel some flights after reduced 5G rollout in USSome flights to and from the U.S. have been canceled even after AT&T and Verizon scaled back the rollout of high-speed wireless service that could interfere with aircraft technology that measures altitude.
EXPLAINER: Why airlines fear 5G will upend travel this week
Read full article: EXPLAINER: Why airlines fear 5G will upend travel this weekThe 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.
AT&T, Verizon pause some new 5G after airlines raise alarm
Read full article: AT&T, Verizon pause some new 5G after airlines raise alarmAT&T and Verizon say they will delay some new 5G wireless service after the airline industry raised alarms about potential interference with important systems on planes.
Biden says deal with telecoms avoids flight disruptions
Read full article: Biden says deal with telecoms avoids flight disruptionsTelecom giants AT&T and Verizon have agreed to postpone the launch of a new slice of 5G wireless service after airlines and aviation groups complained that the networks can interfere with systems on board planes.
Dems: Discovery, AT&T merger will hurt diversity, workers
Read full article: Dems: Discovery, AT&T merger will hurt diversity, workersHouse Democrats are raising concerns that the proposed merger of Discovery and AT&T’s 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.
Man sentenced to 12 years in $200 million phone-fraud scheme
Read full article: Man sentenced to 12 years in $200 million phone-fraud schemeA Pakistan resident has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for a conspiracy to “unlock” phones from AT&T's network, a scheme that the company says cost it more than $200 million.
Ida Updates: Neighboring states send assistance to Louisiana
Read full article: Ida Updates: Neighboring states send assistance to LouisianaMississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said Monday that state and local emergency responders conducted 20 rescues from flooded areas in the state’s three coastal counties.
EXPLAINER: How AT&T-Discovery deal affects consumers, rivals
Read full article: EXPLAINER: How AT&T-Discovery deal affects consumers, rivalsAT&T says it will combine its massive WarnerMedia media assets, which includes HBO and CNN, with Discovery Inc. to create a new media heavyweight in a $43 billion deal.
Oprah and CNN: AT&T is merging media business with Discovery
Read full article: Oprah and CNN: AT&T is merging media business with DiscoveryU.S. telecom giant AT&T Inc. is combining its WarnerMedia operations with Discovery Inc. The deal will marry the likes of HBO and CNN with HGTV and Oprah Winfrey.
Corporations gave over $50M to voting restriction backers
Read full article: Corporations gave over $50M to voting restriction backersCorporations have given more than $50 million in recent years to state lawmakers who have seized on Donald Trump’s lies about a stolen 2020 election to push for new restrictions on the right to vote.
EXPLAINER: California's net neutrality law springs to life
Read full article: EXPLAINER: California's net neutrality law springs to lifeIn 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.
SEC suing AT&T for telling analysts nonpublic information
Read full article: SEC suing AT&T for telling analysts nonpublic informationFILE - 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 “material nonpublic information" and that it will fight the lawsuit.
AT&T spinning off DirecTV after losing millions of customers
Read full article: AT&T spinning off DirecTV after losing millions of customersAT&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&T’s 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.
Report: Companies donated $170M to GOP election objectors
Read full article: Report: Companies donated $170M to GOP election objectorsGiving 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 “not making political contributions at this time” and will “carefully evaluate” 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.
Nashville bombing spotlights vulnerable voice, data networks
Read full article: Nashville bombing spotlights vulnerable voice, data networksThe 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 — phones, internet or video — 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
Read full article: The Latest: Driver charged after truck stopped in TennesseeThe 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. Sheriff’s 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
Read full article: US officials: Suspect in Nashville explosion died in blastFederal 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. – 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. “Nashville 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
Read full article: FBI at home of possible person of interest in Nashville bombNASHVILLE, Tenn. – Federal agents converged Saturday on the home of a possible person of interest in the explosion that rocked downtown Nashville as investigators scoured hundreds of tips and leads in the blast that damaged dozens of buildings on Christmas morning. Asked whether the AT&T building could have been a possible target, Korneski said, “We’re 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. “We have two portable cell sites operating in downtown Nashville with numerous additional portable sites being deployed in the Nashville area and in the region.”Ray 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.
Downtown Nashville explosion knocks communications offline
Read full article: Downtown Nashville explosion knocks communications offlineEmergency personnel work near the scene of an explosion in downtown Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Dec. 25, 2020. The blast sent black smoke and flames billowing from the heart of downtown Nashville’s tourist scene, an area packed with honky-tonks, restaurants and shops. Buildings shook and windows shattered streets away from the explosion near a building owned by AT&T that lies one block from the company's office tower, a landmark in downtown. The Federal Aviation Administration temporarily halted flights out of Nashville International Airport because of telecommunications issues associated with the explosion. Buck McCoy, who lives near the area, posted videos on Facebook that show water pouring down the ceiling of his home.
Pandemic hurts AT&T in 3rd quarter; wireless unit stable
Read full article: Pandemic hurts AT&T in 3rd quarter; wireless unit stableNEW YORK – 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 “premium” 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
Read full article: Asian shares, US futures gain after last Trump-Biden debateShares 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. “Meanwhile, 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 Street’s expectations.
‘We lost a great man,' says friend of AT&T worker, father of 5, killed on the job
Read full article: ‘We lost a great man,' says friend of AT&T worker, father of 5, killed on the jobPhillip Harley, 37, was one of the two men shot Thursday at the tower off Firestone Road and Morse Avenue. Both victims were found just after 6 a.m. inside a small building at the base of the tower. Their work involves being subcontracted out by network providers, such as AT&T, to upgrade wireless network equipment across the Southeast. And he never imagined it would happen to his best friend, who’s a father of five. AT&T released a statement saying: “This is a terrible tragedy and our thoughts go out their family, friends and colleagues.
'Jaws,' 'Black Panther' and more coming back to the drive-in
Read full article: 'Jaws,' 'Black Panther' and more coming back to the drive-inJaws, 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
Read full article: Job losses continue, suburbs appealing to homebuyersFollowing 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.
FCC calls hours-long T-Mobile service outage 'unacceptable'
Read full article: 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.
Too much TV? Enter HBO Max, the latest streaming wannabe
Read full article: Too much TV? Enter HBO Max, the latest streaming wannabe(Richard Termine/Sesame Workshop via AP)Is a pandemic the perfect time to launch a new and relatively expensive streaming service? The phone company is investing billions in HBO Max, its first big entertainment venture since it spent $85 billion for Time Warner in 2018. HBO Max costs $15, same as the HBO Now streaming service it's supposed to replace, with discounts after the launch limited to some AT&T customers. Disney launched Disney Plus and the sports-focused ESPN Plus and took control of Hulu from an industry joint venture. It's easy to prompt HBO Now users to switch to Max if they signed up directly through HBO, and many big cable companies have agreed to promote HBO Max to their existing HBO customers.
AT&T blames internet issues on damaged cable in Jacksonville
Read full article: AT&T blames internet issues on damaged cable in JacksonvilleJACKSONVILLE, Fla. An internet outage that plagued AT&T customers across Florida on Wednesday was blamed on a cable in Jacksonville damaged by a road construction crew. An AT&T representative told News4Jax Thursday, "Our technicians have been working around the clock to make repairs to cables damaged by a road crew in the Jacksonville area. UPDATE: Our technicians have been working around the clock to make repairs to cables damaged by a road crew in the Jacksonville area. DownDetector.com AT&T outage map (DownDetector.com)The station was told the outage affected about 50,000 customers, but thousands more -- including some News4Jax staff who are AT&T customers -- reported their internet speed was much slower than usual. We have requested more details about the outage as AT&T releases more information.
AT&T to drop misleading '5G' marketing for non-5G networks
Read full article: AT&T to drop misleading '5G' marketing for non-5G networksAT&T says it will stop advertising its wireless network as 5G Evolution after an industry group determined it was misleading, as it is not, in fact, 5G. Now, a division of the Better Business Bureau that regulates the ad industry has recommended that AT&T stop using 5G Evolution and 5G Evolution, The First Step to 5G claims in its marketing. It's not clear what that means and how much AT&T uses the 5G Evolution branding today in its stores and ads today. "5G Evolution" is on the companys website, and AT&T phones carry a 5G E icon when you connect to the 4G network. AT&T spokeswoman Kate MacKinnon declined to comment on how AT&T uses the 5G Evolution branding today or what would change.
Keeping 'Friends' for itself at HBO Max dings AT&T profit
Read full article: Keeping 'Friends' for itself at HBO Max dings AT&T profitWarnerMedia's revenue fell 3.3% to $8.92 billion in the fourth quarter, and the profit measure dropped 7% to $2.6 billion. HBO Max is important to AT&T as an increasing number of people cut the cable cord. AT&T, one of the country's largest video providers, has been hemorrhaging video customers. For the year, AT&T lost 4.1 million video customers, ending at 20.3 million. Revenue fell 2.4% to $46.82 billion, short of the Street forecast of $46.9 billion.
BritBox: Britain's answer to Netflix is here
Read full article: BritBox: Britain's answer to Netflix is hereBritBox, a streaming service created by the BBC and ITV, launched in the United Kingdom on Thursday at a price of 5.99 ($7.70) per month. (CNN) - The United Kingdom's answer to Netflix has joined the streaming wars. BritBox, a streaming service created by the BBC and ITV, launched in the United Kingdom on Thursday at a price of 5.99 ($7.70) per month. BritBox will try to stand out from the crowd with UK series such as "Gavin & Stacey" and "Victoria," as well as older series such as "Agatha Christie's Miss Marple and Poirot." "BritBox features the biggest collection of British content available on any streaming service, and brand new commissions for British production companies specifically created for BritBox," the companies said in a statement.
AT&T to pay $60M over claims about misleading 'unlimited' data plans
Read full article: AT&T to pay $60M over claims about misleading 'unlimited' data plansAT&T, which is CNN's parent company, allegedly started throttling, or slowing speeds, for customers with unlimited data plans in 2011, according to the FTC. In 2015, the Federal Communications Commission fined AT&T $100 million for similar allegations about misleading "unlimited" plans. The FCC found AT&T subjected unlimited data plan customers to slower speeds after they used more than a certain amount of data per billing cycle. "AT&T promised unlimited data without qualification and failed to deliver on that promise," FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Andrew Smith said in a press release. In July 2014, Verizon faced criticism from the FCC over plans to throttle the connections of unlimited data plan customers.
HBO Max goes 'all in' on its big genre-driven streaming bet
Read full article: HBO Max goes 'all in' on its big genre-driven streaming betPhoto by Presley Ann/Getty Images for WarnerMedia(CNN) - With spotlights shining on soon-to-debut streaming services from Apple and Disney, WarnerMedia sought Tuesday to offer audiences a reminder: Set aside a few bucks for us. Not surprisingly, Warner Bros. stressed animation and programs like "Sesame Street" as a means of reaching kids a key component of the streaming business. Similarly, HBO Max will pad that portfolio of established fare for young adults via deals to stream "South Park" and "Doctor Who." That's a particularly good way of expressing what is, despite the meticulous planning by all these media companies, a great big gamble. The-CNN-Wire & 2019 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company.
Sony shutting down PlayStation Vue live TV service
Read full article: Sony shutting down PlayStation Vue live TV service(CNN) - Rising content costs and fewer customers are forcing Sony to eliminate its live TV service. The live TV service was available as an internet-connected app for a number of devices, including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Sony's own PlayStation consoles. Sony launched Vue in 2015 along with a wave of other cord-cutter bundles offering live tv service as customers searched for cheaper alternatives to cable or satellite. For example, Dish Network's Sling, Hulu with live TV, Google's YouTube TV and AT&T's formerly named DirecTV Now (now known as AT&T TV Now) all began within two years of each other. The most popular service with live TV is Sling, with 2.4 million subscribers.
AT&T to launching new streaming service
Read full article: AT&T to launching new streaming serviceThe launch of a new subscription video streaming service was a keystone in AT&T's $85 billion deal for Time Warner. The launch of a new subscription video streaming service was a keystone in AT&T's $85 billion deal for Time Warner, CNN's parent company. The media company previously had three divisions -- HBO, Warner Bros and Turner -- with relatively little synergy between them. AT&T said Monday that it intends to spend about $2 billion on HBO Max in the next two years. HBO already offers a streaming subscription option for its programming, known as HBO Now.
AT&T agrees to deal with activist shareholder
Read full article: AT&T agrees to deal with activist shareholderCNNMoney(CNN) - AT&T has ended its battle with Elliott Management, agreeing to make substantial changes to its oversight to avoid a high-stakes fight with one of the world's most successful activist shareholders. For example, Elliott Management said AT&T has agreed to separate the CEO and chairman roles once Stephenson steps down. According to Elliott, AT&T also pledged not to make any more large acquisitions like WarnerMedia or DirecTV. Elliott Management controls funds that own $3.4 billion worth of AT&T's stock. AT&T also announced a three-year plan in which it will retire 100% of the debt from the Time Warner deal.
Verizon to offer customers free year of Disney+
Read full article: Verizon to offer customers free year of Disney+NEW YORK - Verizon is offering new and current customers a free year of Disney's new video streaming service. It extends to certain new and existing unlimited 4G and 5G customers at Verizon, as well as the vast majority of new home-internet customers. Other streaming services are also offering free introductory periods in an attempt to ensure early exposure to a big audience. And AT&T, which will launch HBO Max next year, today throws in HBO free for wireless customers on unlimited plans. Netflix also teams up with T-Mobile to offer free service to its streaming service.
Samsung's Galaxy Fold hits US stores this week
Read full article: Samsung's Galaxy Fold hits US stores this week(CNN) - Samsung's Galaxy Fold will officially go on sale later this week in the United States after several months of delays. The phone is launching on Friday at select locations of Best Buy, AT&T outlets and Samsung Experience Stores. The Galaxy Fold is a 4.6 inch-smartphone that opens up into a 7.3-inch tablet. Noticeably absent from the launch is T-Mobile, which initially offered pre-orders in April but had to give buyers' refunds after Samsung scrapped the launch. AT&T, which owns CNN parent company WarnerMedia, also canceled preorders and offered customers a $100 gift card for the inconvenience.
AT&T is reportedly exploring sale of DirecTV
Read full article: AT&T is reportedly exploring sale of DirecTVAndrew Burton/Getty Images(CNN) - AT&T is considering selling DirecTV, according to the Wall Street Journal. AT&T, which owns CNN's parent company WarnerMedia, is looking into "various options" for DirecTV including a spinoff of the unit, the paper reported. The telecommunications giant is also exploring the option of combining DirecTV's assets with rival Dish Network, according to the Journal, citing sources. AT&T purchased DirecTV for $49 billion, or $67.1 billion including debt, in 2015. The Journal also reported that AT&T may "ultimately decide to keep DirecTV in the fold."
Activist investor takes big stake in AT&T
Read full article: Activist investor takes big stake in AT&TCNN imageEllliott Management, a top activist shareholder firm, disclosed Monday that it has taken a $3.2 billion stake in AT&T. The activist investor also called for AT&T to buy back more stock, increase its dividend and pay down debt. Trump said in two tweets that the Elliott stake was "great news," adding that perhaps Elliott "will now put a stop to all of the Fake News emanating from its non-credible 'anchors.'" It's also worth noting that Elliott's stake, while significant, makes it just the sixth-largest institutional owner in AT&T, at a little more than 1%. Elliott Management is run by billionaire investor Paul Singer, who famously battled Argentina over its mutlibillion dollar debt defaults.
AT&T, Sprint, Verizon helping customers during Hurricane Dorian
Read full article: AT&T, Sprint, Verizon helping customers during Hurricane DorianiStock/pressureUAJACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Helping keep their customers connected during Hurricane Dorian, four of the big wireless carriers in the U.S. are waiving fees due to the storm..AT&T said it's waiving data overages in areas directly impacted by Dorian through Sunday. It's giving unlimited talk, text and data for AT&T wireless and AT&T prepaid customers in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Sprint said it will be helping customers in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina by waiving call, text and data overages through Sunday. Verizon customers in the path of the storm in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina are receiving unlimited calling, texting and data through Monday. Dorian virtually stalled over the northwestern Bahamas in recent days as a Category 5 storm that caused widespread devastation in parts of the island archipelago.
AT&T promotes WarnerMedia boss John Stankey
Read full article: AT&T promotes WarnerMedia boss John StankeyAT&T announced two promotions on Tuesday that place John Stankey, the CEO of its subsidiary WarnerMedia, firmly in line to succeed the wireless giant's CEO, Randall Stephenson. DALLAS, Texas - AT&T announced two promotions on Tuesday that place John Stankey, the CEO of its subsidiary WarnerMedia, firmly in line to succeed the wireless giant's CEO, Randall Stephenson. Stephenson, who has led AT&T since 2007, is installing Stankey as president and chief operating officer of the entire company. At the same time, Stankey will remain the head of WarnerMedia, the entertainment and news unit that includes CNN. Another contender was John Donovan, the head of the AT&T Communications unit, but Donovan announced his retirement last week.
High school football venues in Texas cash in on naming rights
Read full article: High school football venues in Texas cash in on naming rightsIn some cases statewide, high school football stadiums have become cash cows that net millions of dollars. Texas has been mocked nationally for building multiple high school stadiums that cost upward of $60 million. Research by The Dallas Morning News found nearly 20 school districts statewide that have awarded naming rights for their football stadium, the field within the stadium or their athletic complex. "You get to a point where school districts have to be creative. "Naming rights of high school stadiums is a very regional activity," said Marc Ganis, president of Sportscorp Ltd., a Chicago-based sports consulting firm.
'Mr. Mercedes' Focuses on Stephen King's 'Finders Keepers' Mystery in
Read full article: 'Mr. Mercedes' Focuses on Stephen King's 'Finders Keepers' Mystery inMr. Mercedes, the AT&T Audience Network television adaptation of Stephen Kings Bill Hodges trilogy, is back for another season of murders and mystery. ET has an exclusive first look at the trailer for season three, which closely follows Finders Keepers, Kings second novel in the hard-boiled detective series. Mr. Mercedes returns Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 10 p.m. RELATED CONTENT:On Set of David E. Kelley's Anticipated Adaptation of Stephen King's 'Mr. Mercedes' to 'Dark Tower,' Stephen King Is Having a Moment (Exclusive)Harry Treadaway on the Chilling Parallels Between Mr.
5G will soon change your life. But first, you'll have to find it
Read full article: 5G will soon change your life. But first, you'll have to find itThis is the future 5G technology promises in less than a decade's time; internet connections so fast they'll support an entirely new way of life. This was my experience testing the newly launched Verizon 5G network in Chicago last month. My 5G network tests, often performed via the Speedtest app, were inconsistent. But without a map on hand in Dallas, I was left guessing which areas would give me 5G Sprint coverage (I was usually wrong). Beyond phonesNarrowly focused on businesses, AT&T's 5G network is invitation-only for now and not available to the general public (though it will be soon).
CBS, AT&T reach new deal to end 20-day blackout
Read full article: CBS, AT&T reach new deal to end 20-day blackoutJustin Sullivan/Getty Images(CNN) - CBS and AT&T have reached a new carriage deal to end a nearly three-week blackout that affected millions of viewers. "CBS and AT&T regret any inconvenience to their customers and viewers and thank them for their patience," they said in joint a statement. At the heart of the dispute was the renewal rate that AT&T was willing to pay to carry CBS' programming. AT&T accused CBS of charging too much, while CBS said it was "simply looking to receive fair value for its popular programming." For several weeks, viewers on DirecTV and U-Verse were deprived of popular shows like "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" and "Big Brother."
College football: Clemson headlines Amway Top 25 poll; Florida 8th
Read full article: College football: Clemson headlines Amway Top 25 poll; Florida 8thBoth Florida State and Miami are unranked. The ACC as a whole only had one team, top-ranked Clemson, in the Top 25. Florida, 10-3, 1103, 69. Penn State, 9-4, 699, 1715. Iowa State, 8-5, 169, NR25.
FPL and AT&T battle over utility poles
Read full article: FPL and AT&T battle over utility polesTALLAHASSEE, Fla. - In a clash of two of the states most-prominent companies, Florida Power & Light and AT&T Florida are battling in court and at the Federal Communications Commission about payments for the use of utility poles. AT&T pointed to a complaint it filed at the Federal Communications Commission alleging FPL has long charged unjust and unreasonable rates for AT&T to attach equipment to poles. After 43 years, AT&T Florida unilaterally stopped making contractually required payments to FPL despite repeated requests by FPL, the lawsuit said. The companies share an estimated 638,914 poles, with FPL owning 425,704 and AT&T owning 213,210, according to information in the Federal Communications Commission complaint. Removal of the attachments requires the expertise, knowledge and equipment of AT&T Florida's personnel because the AT&T Florida equipment and facilities are different from the equipment and facilities utilized by FPL, FPL lawyers wrote.
DOJ approves T-Mobile's mega-merger with Sprint
Read full article: DOJ approves T-Mobile's mega-merger with SprintJustin Sullivan/Getty Images; Joe Raedle/Getty Images(CNN) - T-Mobile's mega-merger with Sprint can move forward, the Justice Department said Friday, paving the way for an unprecedented combination of America's third- and fourth-largest wireless providers. For weeks, Sprint and T-Mobile have been negotiating an agreement with the DOJ to address concerns that the merger may harm competition. Those airwaves could help rural Americans gain access to mobile Internet, according to the Justice Department. The Sprint and T-Mobile merger would help fulfill those goals, he said. The states, Sprint and T-Mobile have agreed to a trial date of Oct. 7 in federal court in New York.
NYC might ban wireless companies from selling your location data
Read full article: NYC might ban wireless companies from selling your location dataIn the terms of service cell phone customers have to sign (and few read), people give wireless companies the ability to collect and sell their location data. He added, "It's Big Brother Big Business, and if we don't act, it's going to get worse." Under the proposal, law enforcement agencies could still request and obtain location data legally, and so can emergency services. Federal, state or city law can still require data, and customers can still willingly provide their location data. In January, T-Mobile CEO John Legere said in a tweet that the company would end the practice of sharing location data with aggregators.
AT&T now automatically blocking spam calls
Read full article: AT&T now automatically blocking spam callsFerre Dollar/CNN(CNN) - AT&T customers could soon be free of having to deal with annoying spam calls or at least that's AT&T's plan. The free service comes after a June Federal Communications Commission ruling that allows phone service providers to offer call-blocking on an opt-out basis. Spam calls are an annoyance for just about everyone with a cell phone. Other carriers offer similar options, though AT&T is so far the only to automatically block calls. Sprint offers a caller ID service, which it says may identify spam calls, for $2.99 per month.
I-Team helps centenarian get a landline
Read full article: I-Team helps centenarian get a landlineA 100 year-old woman was in despair as she says AT&T failed to install her landline, preventing her from calling her doctors and nurses. How the I-Team helped the woman get her landline connected. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.
AT&T says U-verse service being restored
Read full article: AT&T says U-verse service being restoredJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Television, phone and Internet service for AT&T's U-verse customers across Florida and a dozen other states is being restored Thursday, according to a spokeswoman for the telecommunications company. "U-verse service has been restored for the vast majority of our customers affected by the outage," AT&T spokeswoman Gretchen Schultz said in a statement released Thursday morning. We know our customers count on their U-verse service and we apologize for the inconvenience." "We know that a limited number of customers are experiencing trouble with their U-verse service," AT&T wrote on its Facebook page on Wednesday. "We're working to resolve remaining service issues as quickly as possible.