AT&T “Crap Wireless” Is Not Reliable: AT&T Claims No Responsibility.
AT&T has announced plans to ‘shut off the copper’ wires and replace them with a crap wireless product that is not new, not innovative, as AT&T claims, but is a slap in the face for all of its customers in its 21 state service areas that still rely on the aging copper wires for phone service.
CONCLUSION: IF AT&T WON’T STAND BY ITS PRODUCT AND SERVICE, THEN THIS IS NOT A REPLACEMENT OF THE COPPER WIRES THAT ARE COVERED UNDER THE “CARRIER OF LAST RESORT” OBLIGATIONS OF THE STATE TELECOMMUNICATIONS PUBLIC UTILITIES.
We already addressed some issues about AT&T’s plans, which we will return to.
- FCC Gives Approval for an AT&T ‘Shut the Copper’, Wireless-Bait-and-Switch.
- AT&T Screams “Fiber” and yet America Gets Crap Wireless.
AT&T DOCUMENTS:
- AT&T Product Information for this ‘advanced service’.
- AT&T Wireless Phone-Advanced Service Guide.
- AT&T Wireless Advanced “Terms and Conditions”
“Crap” is a technical term.
AT&T’s Terms and Conditions reveals AT&T takes no responsibility if the service does or does not work — and the copper wires are nothing if not reliable when they are maintained.
As we wrote in the previous stories, the copper wires are part of a state telecommunications public utility that has an obligation to deliver phone service to everyone in the franchised service area, which is known as ‘carrier of last resort’. And this franchise can cover 80–100% of the state. This was mandated by the Communications Act of 1934.
AT&T’s plan shows that their new innovative service is ‘crap’ because AT&T refuses to take any responsibility for the product working, and therefore it is not reliable; it is not a replacement of the existing copper.
AT&T controls 21 states and let their copper-basic utility networks deteriorate. To be frank, this copper wire should have already been replaced with a fiber optic wire, even to rural areas, over the last 30 years.
And “Carrier of Last Resort” is NOT a trivial thing; The basic ability to stay connected is a national mandate that was established so that a company couldn’t just leave out homes and businesses or not give them rock-solid, guaranteed network connection, including “voice” phone service.
NOTE: Ironically, phone service was never just about voice calling but also about data services. This is important because AT&T is claiming that their product is a ‘voice’ service.
But it is this “innovative” new wireless device that shows AT&T has no plans to deliver quality high speed broadband to those on their copper infrastructure today.
5 WARNING SIGNS IT IS A CRAP SERVICE
Here are a few excerpted items from the Wireless Home Phone-Advanced Terms and Conditions and Product Guide that show that AT&T won’t take any responsibility for this wireless device substitution, and it may have serious problems — or issues that make this scheme ludicrous.
EXAMPLE: Go upstairs to a window and point to the nearest cell tower vs pick up the phone and it just works.
1) WARNING: BAD RECEPTION: Go to the higher floor and find the direction to the nearest cell tower, then open the window and wave the device so that it can get the best reception.
“It’s recommended to place the AP-A device near a window or outside wall (to ensure the best cellular connection).”
“Signal strength may vary in different parts of your home, so you may need to check multiple locations in your home for the strongest signal. If you don’t see two or more green bars of signal strength, move the AP-A to a higher floor (and/or closer to a window). so, the AP-A device can use the cellular connection to complete your calls in a power outage or broadband internet outage.”
2) WARNING: CAN’T USE EXISTING WIRES — MAY GO ON FIRE.
The Service can’t use the existing wiring — it may go on fire.
“NEVER plug the AP-A device into a phone wall jack in your home. Doing so may damage the device and/or your home wiring. It may also start a fire.”
“NEVER plug the AP-A phone cable into your home phone wall jack. Doing so may cause electrical shorts and/or damage to your home wiring or the AP-A device.”
3) WARNING: ALARM, MEDICAL DEVICES MAY NOT WORK
AT&T claims no responsibility if they don’t work. Please, do not have a serious medical condition or if you plugged the phone in by mistake, and it started a fire… or….
“AT&T makes no warranty that AT&T Phone Service is appropriate for or capable of use with monitored burglar or fire alarms or medical monitoring systems or devices. Use of such systems is at your own risk”
4) WARNING: E911 MAY NOT WORK, AND AT&T CLAIMS NO RESPONSIBILITY
“5.2.5.2 Limitations of 911 Service: AT&T Phone — Advanced Service is not the same as traditional wireline telephone service, and 911 service doesn’t work the same as with traditional wireline telephones. You agree to tell anyone who may use your AT&T Phone.”
“Advanced Service of the limitations of 911 service. AT&T makes no warranty that access to 911 will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free. 911 service is available only at your…”
5) WARNING: AT&T says customers need to have a ‘back up alternative cell phone’; but what if the cell phone doesn’t work in your location- no reception.
CONCLUSION: At the core, AT&T refuses to make sure the product is reliable or takes any responsibility if there are problems.
And what AT&T is offering is just voice ‘crap’ wireless service — — with the ironic ending:
SUPPLEMENTAL IRONIC WARNING: AT&T was supposed to be upgrading the state telecommunications public utility networks for the last 30 years. The Networks were written off and AT&T has manipulated the storyline so that they are getting more government subsidies that go to the wireless networks so they can deliver FWA and get deregulated from their COLR, Title II, telecommunications utility requirements.
We will conclude this AT&T wireless bait and switch tale in the next IRREGULATORS Summary Research Memo on AT&T fiber optic plans and the plan to shut off the copper networks.
