AT&T to Offer Credits for Unlimited Data, Calls and Texts to Keep Customers Affected by California Wildfires Connected
We’re automatically issuing credits and waiving additional charges from Oct. 9 through Oct. 18 to provide unlimited data, voice and text for AT&T wireless customers and unlimited voice and text to AT&T PREPAID customers in affected areas of California.* We are also extending payment dates for affected AT&T PREPAID customers with voice and text service through Oct. 18.
This applies to AT&T wireless customers with billing addresses and AT&T PREPAID customers with phone numbers in the following counties – Butte, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Nevada, Solano, Sonoma and Yuba.
Customers in these areas may still receive data alert notifications during these protected dates, but billing will reflect the correct data charges.
To help those affected by the California wildfires, we encourage you to text ‘CAWILDFIRES’ to 90999 to donate $10 to the American Red Cross.**
AT&T wireless customers without AT&T Device Protection, who live in areas affected by the fires, and whose devices have been lost or damaged, can visit an AT&T retail location through November 18 to get a free LG V10 while supplies last.
Customers with AT&T Device Protection can file a claim by calling Asurion at 888-562-8662 or online at phoneclaim.com/att.
AT&T is also providing our consumer landline customers who live in areas affected by the fires in Northern California a special offer designed to help provide a wireless connection during this difficult time.*** These affected customers can visit an AT&T retail location through November 18 to get a free AT&T PREPAID device while supplies last and $25 pin that can be used $0.25 per min calling and $0.20 per text.
Additionally, affected video and home internet customers can contact us at 1-800-288-2020 with questions about their service, questions about damaged equipment or to voluntarily pause their service to suspend charges.
AT&T video customers with an active account and a Wi-Fi or wireless connection can access their DIRECTV or U-verse TV content by downloading the respective mobile app on Google Play for Android Devices or on iTunes for iOS devices.
We’ll keep you updated on this blog regarding developments.
*Location based on billing zip code for AT&T wireless customers and billing phone number for AT&T PREPAID customers. Credits will post in 2-3 billing cycles. Dates based on local time zones.
**Donation will appear on your wireless bill or be deducted from your prepaid balance. Message/data rates may apply. Text STOP to 90999 to STOP. Text HELP to 90999 for HELP. Full Terms and Privacy Policy: hmgf.org/t.
***Eligible Customers who have AT&T landline or VOIP services and are within the following counties; Butte, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Nevada, Solano, Sonoma and Yuba and do not have active Mobility (Cell) service with AT&T.
AT&T has Repair Crews Working Around the Clock
The fire situation across the Northern California region remains dire, with Cal Fire reporting 19 active fires that have burned over 190,000 acres. AT&T has repair crews working around the clock, and has deployed its Network Disaster Recovery teams.
As a result of these efforts, more than 99% of AT&T service is back up across the region. With Red Flag Warnings and the possibility of new wildfires, some areas are still either inaccessible or too dangerous to approach (including certain areas to the north of Santa Rosa). We have deployed mobile cell sites in areas where cell sites have burned or are inaccessible, including in Yountville, Calistoga, and part of Santa Rosa.
With the help of AT&T’s teams and specialized equipment, including satellite links and mobile cell sites mounted on trucks, impacted communities and first responders have access to voice calls, texting, and wireless internet.
AT&T Community Response Teams are at the following shelters today with wifi, charging solutions, phones for use, account support, live news via DirecTV Now, snacks/water:
- Napa: Napa Valley College, 2277 Napa-Vallejo Hwy
- Santa Rosa: Elsie Allen High School, 599 Bellevue Ave
- Petaluma: Community Center 320 N McDowell Blvd
- Sonoma: Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennet Valley Road
- Yuba City: Yuba Sutter Fairgrounds, 442 Franklin Ave
Free AT&T PREPAID phones with a $25 pinare also available while supplies last for landline customers without wireless service, available at the above shelter locations or at AT&T retail locations. Seehttp://about.att.com/inside_connections_blog/california_fires for details.
As the wildfires still burn, we continue to evaluate opportunities to deploy additional equipment where it is needed and once it’s safe to do so.
Cal Fire has information and a mobile app about how to be ready for wildfires. Visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.
AT&T Deploying Additional Assets to Impacted Areas
There are more than 15 active Northern California fires with developing conditions, covering collectively more than 100,000 acres. Our teams are closely monitoring our network in Northern California and are ready to respond if needed.
We made significant progress since yesterday restoring the vast majority of sites affected by fire damage, including much of the North Coast, Napa and Sonoma County areas.
AT&T disaster response teams, including our Network Disaster Recovery (NDR) team, have deployed more mobile cell sites, equipment and generators to support emergency responders and customers in areas impacted by ongoing wildfires.
In addition to the mobile cell sites on air at two locations in Santa Rosa and the Napa Town & County Fairgrounds in Napa, we’ve deployed an emergency communications vehicle to Napa Valley College. Charging facilities are available at the larger evacuation sites and we are working to deploy additional charging equipment.
As the wildfires still burn, we continue to evaluate opportunities to deploy additional equipment once it’s safe to do so.
AT&T Deploying Mobile Cell Sites to Help Those Impacted by California Wildfires
To help customers and emergency responders stay connected, our Network Disaster Recovery (NDR) team is deploying numerous mobile cell sites, or Cells on Light Trucks (COLTs) and equipment to areas impacted by ongoing wildfires.
We deployed Sat COLTs to Santa Rosa, Willits, and the Napa Town & County Fairgrounds in Napa, California. These assets are used to provide network support and for wildfire incident command responders. The Satellite COLTs are mobile cell sites that link to the AT&T network via satellite and don’t rely on commercial power availability.
“Our highest priority is to ensure that our customers have the necessary resources to communicate with their loved ones and emergency services, and access important information during these difficult times,” said Ken McNeely, president of AT&T California. “Our teams are working closely with first responders to get our service up as quickly and safely as possible.”
In addition to deploying temporary cell sites, we are staging and refueling more generators and deployed an emergency communications vehicle to Santa Rosa, California.
To support evacuees, our community response teams have set up charging capabilities at:
- Napa Valley College, 2277 Napa-Vallejo Hwy, Napa, CA
- Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennet Valley Road, Santa Rosa, CA
- Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building, 1351 Maple Ave, Santa Rosa, CA
At AT&T, keeping you connected is always our priority – but even more so after a disaster, like a wildfire, occurs. We continue to monitor our network and evaluate opportunities to deploy additional equipment once conditions allow.
