CUB, AARP Illinois and the Illinois Public Interest Group (PIRG) joined forces to oppose AT&T’s plan to kill traditional home phone service.
Have you seen the headlines? This week, Illinois top consumer advocates held news conferences in seven cities across the state to fight bad legislation from AT&T.
The company, which made $13 billion in profits in 2016, wants to end traditional home phone service (landlines) in its service territory—but consumer advocates like CUB, AARP Illinois and the Illinois Public Interest Group (PIRG) say NO.
The groups urged passionate landline customers to visit SaveOurPhoneService.com, an online center that allows consumers to send a message asking state legislators to defend traditional home phone service.
Consumers can also call a special hotline, at 1-844-220-552, to talk to their legislators.
The state’s Telecommunication Act expires July 1, so consumers shouldn’t wait to tell the Illinois General Assembly to vote NO on AT&T’s two deregulation bills—Senate Bill 1381 and House Bill 2691
Chicago resident Carol Kolen depends on traditional home phone service for her medical monitoring device.
One consumer who’s already speaking out against AT&T’s plan is Carol Kolen.
The Chicago-area resident says her remote-access heart monitor is connected to her landline phone.
“I’m not anti-technology, but I want my medical device to stay connected reliably,” Carol said.
Situations like Carol are why CUB and other consumer advocates are fighting to stop legislation that would push customers onto phone options that tend to be less reliable and more expensive.
It’s one thing if a customer doesn’t want a landline—but people who depend on home phone service shouldn’t have that choice stripped away.
Check out full coverage from the S.O.S.—Save Our Service—campaign:
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Belleville News-Democrat
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