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AT&T has been fined $950,000 by the FCC for failing to promptly notify 911 call centers during an August 2023 service outage. The outage, which lasted over an hour and impacted multiple states, resulted in 400 missed emergency calls.
AT&T Faces Legal Repercussions After The Outage, Highlighting Ongoing Service and Security Issues
AT&T wireless services have recently been scrutinized following a several-hour interruption on August 27. While the outage was not nationwide, it caused significant disruption before resolution.
However, this is not the first time the company's services have been unavailable, and AT&T is now facing legal consequences. The company is currently experiencing negative repercussions from a 2023 outage, as it has been fined for failing to notify 911 about the issue promptly.
This year, AT&T has faced significant pressure due to ongoing criticism over service outages and a major data breach in 2021 that compromised the information of approximately 7.6 million users. A similar data breach was confirmed in July, with call and text records stolen from nearly all customers between May and October 2022.
AT&T Hit with $950,000 Fine After 911 Outage Leaves 400 Emergency Calls Unanswered in Four States
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has fined AT&T $950,000 for failing to promptly notify 911 call centers about the August 2023 service outage. The error, which affected Illinois, Kansas, Wisconsin, and Texas, occurred during AT&T's 911 network test when a technician inadvertently turned off a system segment. The test, linked to planned maintenance activities, did not undergo the necessary technical review, which could have prevented the incident.
The outage lasted over an hour and resulted in 400 missed emergency 911 calls. In addition to the substantial fine, AT&T is now required to follow a three-year compliance plan to ensure that similar violations do not occur in the future and that 911 is promptly notified of any future outages, per Wccftech.
It is crucial for all service providers, including AT&T, to promptly inform emergency services of any outages to alert the public about alternative methods for obtaining assistance in emergencies. Failure to do so can lead to significant chaos, as AT&T's recent challenges demonstrate. The company and others in the industry are under considerable pressure to implement reliable systems to manage such situations effectively.
