Sources told Charlie Gasparino of FOX Business that investors are increasingly agitated by AT & T’s management as the company seeks cost savings after its buying spree.
A 90-year-old man from California caught national attention last week after placing two ads in The Wall Street Journal calling AT&T for providing a low-quality internet service.
Aaron M. Epstein, a customer of the communications company for two decades, spent more than $ 10,000 in an effort to spur change.
The North Hollywood resident told KTVU that his problems only started about five years ago, when streaming became accessible and that, although the company’s representatives were “courteous”, updates – including fiber optics – did not appear to come anytime soon.
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“So, I put the ad in the newspaper and believe me, it’s money well spent,” he said.
Epstein ran an ad in Dallas, Texas – the location of AT&T’s headquarters – and the other in New York City in an attempt to reach Wall Street investors.
“AT&T is proud to be a leader in electronic communications,” he wrote. “Unfortunately, for people living in N. Hollywood, CA 91607, AT&T is now a major disappointment.”
“Many of our neighbors are the creative technical workers at Universal, Warner Brothers, Disney studios in the neighboring city of Burbank and our city,” continued Epstein. “We need to keep up to date with current technology and look to AT&T to provide us with fast Internet service. However, while AT&T is announcing speeds of up to 100 MBS for other neighborhoods, the fastest one now available to us at ATT is only 3 MBS. “
The old customer noted that competitors were providing speeds of more than 200 MBS.
“Why is AT&T a leader in communications, treating us so narrowly in North Hollywood?” he asked.
The ads ran on February 3 and Epstein reportedly received a call from an AT&T spokesperson who represents CEO John T. Stankey.
AT&T HAS $ 1.35 BILLION IN TECHNOLOGY TO SYNCHRONIZE SMART DEVICES
The spokesman said he would see what he could do to help the Epstein community.
According to AT&T’s fiber optic map, several areas around North Hollywood can currently obtain fiber from AT&T.
An AT&T spokesman told Fox Business on Saturday that the company had expanded AT&T Fiber in the Epstein neighborhood and they “were happy to provide him with the upgrade he wanted”.
“By the end of the year, we will work to connect additional customers in the area. This is part of our continued expansion of fiber in the greater Los Angeles area,” explained the spokesman. “Nationally, we recently announced that we will take AT&T Fibra to more [two] million residential locations this year. “
They also told KTVU that they have spent $ 3.1 billion near Los Angeles since 2019.
Epstein pointed out to Fox Business a post he had written on Nextdoor’s Valley Village forum, which said that although his service complaint was answered – giving him 350 MB of download speed – the update “was installed alone [his] street “and has not yet been offered to its immediate neighbors.
“I try to assuage this guilt by saying that in all my conversations with all members of the [AT&T] I said that I will give you 100,000 Thank Yous, but when you offer the service to my neighbors in N. Hollywood, I will give you 10 million Thank Yous, “he wrote.” I even said it personally … to John Stanke, president of ATT, who called us … to ask if the new service is satisfactory. “
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“The response of those in [the] know in [AT&T] that was it in [the] in the vicinity of Addison and Gentry, fiber optic cables are installed and will have the service available within 12 months, “he continued.” Hopefully this is accurate! I personally will not make any guarantees, but the people I spoke with looked like [like] they were in [know], and were sincere. “
Epstein responded to public criticism from some who wondered why he would spend so much money on ads or not use social media to make his appeal, saying his points are “valid and I hear them”.
“To all who responded, I thank you,” he said. “The worst reaction to anyone who expresses their concerns is to be ignored. It didn’t happen.”