Conn. whacks AT&T again

Connecticut state officials publicly slapped AT&T again, this time for planning to relocate 60 customer service jobs to Michigan.

Both the state and the Communications Workers of America (CWA) are not happy about the closure of a customer service office in Meriden. The Conn. Attorney General held a press conference and the Governor sent a letter to state regulators ordering them to review the move and fast-track hearings on a pending investigation. State officials say AT&T has eliminated nearly 1,000 customer service related jobs in recent years.

This is the latest skirmish in a running feud between state officials and AT&T over customer service and jobs. Last month, the AG jumped into a proceeding at the Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) intended to enforce repair service standards and order AT&T to improve customer service.  AT&T has been accused of answering its phones four times slower than other phone companies and its call abandonment rate - where people just give up after being on hold - is also four times higher. Additionally, AT&T has not met DPUC requirements that it fix 90 percent of out-of-service phones within 24 hours, and it has failed to for eight years.

For more:
- Hartford Courant coverage of CT AT&T scolding
- Media Newswire carries the release by the Conn. AG
- Local TV coverage of more AT&T layoffs in CT

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