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Cellphone

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

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…...

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

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…...

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The dos and don’ts of robocalls

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…...

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CUB releases new guide to help Illinois consumers shop phone market

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…...

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Why CUB continues the fight for landlines

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…...

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We have a winner from our cellphone survey!

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…...

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LAST CHANCE to get $50 off your cellphone bill!

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?

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…...

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CUB featured on WGN-TV

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…...

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Act now! Fight irritating, illegal robocalls

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…...

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