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   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:

   November 6, 2012 Mark Wigfield, 202-418-0253

   E-mail: mark.wigfield@fcc.gov

   AT&T TO PAY $700,000 TO RESOLVE COMPLAINTS OF EXCESS CHARGES FOR WIRELESS
              DATA PLANS AGAINST "GRANDFATHERED" DATA SUBSCRIBERS

     FCC Enforcement Bureau Consent Decree Will Also Require AT&T to Refund
                                 Excess Charges

   Washington, D.C. - As a result of an FCC Enforcement Bureau investigation,
   AT&T agreed to pay $700,000 as part of a consent decree to resolve
   complaints that the company switched certain consumers to its mandatory
   monthly wireless data plans even though it had promised they could retain
   their existing pay-as-you-go data plans. These customers are called
   "grandfathered subscribers."

   AT&T has agreed to refund excess charges paid by individual customers,
   which could be as much as $25 to $30 a month, depending on data use. The
   transfers began occurring in November 2009, shortly after AT&T required
   first-time smartphone subscribers or those who upgraded their phones to
   enroll in monthly data plans. Consumer complaints prompted the FCC to
   launch an investigation last year.

   "Today's action sends a clear signal that wireless carriers can't
   wrongfully charge consumers,'' said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski.
   "These strong FCC accountability measures will ensure customers are not
   over-charged. I am pleased that AT&T is taking the appropriate steps to
   resolve this issue."

   "This Consent Decree puts precious dollars back in the pockets of
   consumers-where they belong," said Michele Ellison, Chief of the FCC's
   Enforcement Bureau. "We strongly encourage AT&T subscribers to check their
   bills closely and contact the company if they spot any overcharges related
   to wireless data."

   AT&T smartphone customers who had pay-as-you-go data plans (or had
   disabled network data) and kept their old phones had the option to keep
   their pay-as-you-go data plans when the company made monthly plans
   mandatory in September 2009. Some consumers who replaced these phones
   under warranty or insurance, or who moved to a new residence were switched
   to the monthly plans, even though AT&T had said the "grandfathering"
   policy would continue to apply in these situations.

   Under the terms of today's Consent Decree with AT&T, the company has
   agreed to make a voluntary payment in the amount of $700,000 to the U.S.
   Department of Treasury and refunds to individual customers. AT&T has also
   agreed to an extensive compliance plan, which includes: consumer
   notification, training of customer care representatives, and periodic
   compliance reports to the FCC. AT&T must also conduct additional searches
   of its records to identify improperly switched consumers and ensure
   appropriate refunds.

   The full link to the consent decree is
   http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-12-1769A2.pdf.
   The accompanying Order is at
   http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-12-1769A1.pdf.

                                     -FCC-

   News about the Federal Communications Commission can also be found on the
                       Commission's web site www.fcc.gov.

   NEWS

   Federal Communications Commission

   445 12th Street, S.W.

   Washington, D. C. 20554

   This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the
   full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.

   See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).

                                        News Media Information 202 / 418-0500

                                                 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov

                                                          TTY: 1-888-835-5322