CEO apologizes and offers compensation for recent nationwide outage
- AT&T CEO apologizes for nationwide service outage
- Customers affected by outage will receive account credit as compensation
- Outage caused by software update, not a cyber attack
- Approximately 25% of AT&T customers were unable to access the network
- Service fully restored by early afternoon
- Compensation options for different customer segments are being worked out
- AT&T shares are flat year to date and down 13% over the past 12 months
AT&T Inc.’s CEO, John Stankey, has apologized for a recent nationwide service outage that impacted many wireless customers. The outage, which was caused by a software update and not a cyber attack, affected approximately 25% of AT&T’s customers. Stankey expressed his apologies to both customers and employees, acknowledging the inconvenience caused. As compensation, affected consumer and small-business customers will receive an automatic account credit for a full day of service. The company is still working on compensation options for pre-paid, mid-market, and enterprise customers. Stankey emphasized that providing compensation is the right thing to do and assured that it is manageable within the company’s financial guidance. AT&T shares have remained flat year to date and have seen a 13% decline over the past 12 months, in contrast to the S&P 500’s gains.
Factuality Level: 8
Factuality Justification: The article provides a factual account of AT&T Inc.’s chief executive apologizing for a nationwide service outage, attributing it to a software update rather than a cyber attack. It includes details about the outage, the number of customers affected, and the compensation being offered. The information is presented objectively without sensationalism or bias.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant information about AT&T Inc.’s nationwide service outage, the cause of the issue, and the CEO’s response. It includes details about the impact on customers and the compensation plan. However, the article lacks in-depth analysis, antifragility considerations, and accountability of powerful people. It stays on topic and supports its claims with information about the outage and compensation.
Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: AT&T Inc.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: No
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Rating Justification: The article pertains to AT&T Inc., a financial company, and discusses a nationwide service outage that affected its wireless customers. However, there is no mention of an extreme event or its impact rating.
Public Companies: AT&T Inc. (T)
Key People: John Stankey (Chief Executive Officer (CEO))
Reported publicly:
www.marketwatch.com 
