AT&T begins shutdown of AMPS and TDMA networks
By Brian White 
posted Jun 21st 2007 4:34PM
posted Jun 21st 2007 4:34PM
We all knew this day would come -- AT&T has announced a shutdown schedule for its national TDMA and analog cellular wireless networks now that almost all of its customers are using its national GSM network. So far, AT&T has announced TDMA / AMPS network shutdowns in 18 markets by the end of 2007 and every other market in 2008. A good explanation from AT&T states that the shutdowns are due to 99 percent of customer minutes being used on its GSM network. So, that one percent still using TDMA (or, mind-blowingly, AMPS) will be forced to have their old phones pried from their fingers as soon as AT&T starts flipping power switches for those aging networks. It's all coming soon to a cell tower near you, so get the scheduled lowdown using the read link below.[Via Phone Scoop]
AT&T plans to turndown (sunset) its TDMA & Analog networks starting February 18th, 2008**. (TDMA and analog share the same network in most cases.) Government regulations require all wireless companies to keep their analog networks in service until this time. There is no regulatory requirement to maintain TDMA services, thus some TDMA-only markets were sunset early and the AT&T TDMA prepaid network was sunset on March 31, 2007.
Beginning February 18, 2008 and concluding February 20, 2008, AT&T is scheduled to cancel the remaining TDMA subscribers.
**Former Dobson markets will discontinue service on March 1st, 2008
CRITICAL, MUST KNOW/MUST DO:
Must Know
• All TDMA/Analog customers were notified of the cancellation date of February 18, 2008, BMG (IRU & CRU), Consumer, & Reseller.
• Notifications were sent using Direct Mail, Outbound Telemarketing, SMS & Soundbite (broadcast message).
• Subscriber lines should only be reinstated for 2 reasons:
1. Reinstatement may occur to facilitate an upgrade to GSM.
2. From February 20th to February 29th AT&T will allow TDMA lines to be reinstated for 72 hour blocks, to accommodate Port-Out requests. After 72 hours and/or after February 29th, the lines will be disconnected and may not be reinstated.
Q&A’s
Why are you discontinuing service on your TDMA/analog network on February 18th, 2008? (Former Dobson markets will discontinue service on March 1st, 2008)
TDMA and analog service are older forms of wireless technology, and the coverage, quality of service, devices and advanced features offered on GSM are superior to TDMA/Analog. From 2005 to 2007, AT&T invested nearly 16 billion dollars to enhance the quality and coverage of its GSM network. By early 2007, nearly 99.9% of AT&T's network traffic was over its GSM network. Customers have strongly responded to the advantages of AT&T’s GSM service, phones and rate plans.
What is going to happen to the customer's TDMA/Analog service when the shutoff occurs on February 18th, 2008?
Since 2006, we have been notifying affected customers of the impending shutoff. We expect the vast majority of customers will have migrated prior to the February 18 turndown. Any customer that has not upgraded to GSM by the turn down date will lose all service and the account will be terminated.
What can customers do to avoid having service termination?
We have been notifying customers for 18 months that AT&T plans to turn down the TDMA/analog network across the country. We have provided affected customers with information on what they can do to continue receiving service from AT&T, including signing up for pre-paid and post-paid GSM service plans. If a TDMA or analog customer still needs to upgrade to GSM after February 18th 2008, he or she can call Customer Services at 800-331-0500 or visit a Retail location. (Business customers should call 866-746-9957) However, existing phone numbers will only be available for a short time after the turn down.
What about the features of current TDMA calling plans?
GSM service offers most of the features of existing calling TDMA plans, as well as many features not available on TDMA or analog service.
What happens to TDMA customers from other parts of the country that travel to one of these markets?
TDMA service from AT&T will not be available in any market in the US.
Isn’t AT&T legally bound to keep service up and running?
Government rulings require all wireless companies to keep their analog networks in service until February 18th, 2008. There is no such requirement for TDMA service. In limited cases, some TDMA networks were turned down in 2007; however, no analog networks were impacted. These impacted customers were notified in advance and offered incentives to upgrade to GSM service.
What happens to TDMA/Amps subs that pay in advance for their service?
All ‘bill in advance’ customers will be credited for monthly reoccurring charges on their February invoice. This credit will be a prorated amount from Feb.18th to the end of their bill cycle
What is going to happen to GAIT subscribers during the TDMA/Amps Sunset?
There will be no impact to GGAIT subs. These subs now only use the GSM network.
TGAIT subs will be treated just like any other TDMA sub. If they don’t migrate to GSM, they will be included in the cancel process.
For those of you who want to switch with no contract, all you have to do is pay for your own handset. the 2year agreement is ONLY required to get a discount on your handset. Most customers are asking the company to give them $200+ equipment for free, your not going to get that kind of money handed to you without a contract. So, if you want to not be locked into a contract, pay full price for your phone and activate without a contract. Easy right?
I Thoght that AMPS had to stay up until Feb 2008? by FCC mandate?
ATT has appox 60 million subs...so that makes 600k people still on this network...damn thats going to be alot of pissed off people
AMPS stays up until they can legally kick people off. The areas that TDMA is getting shut down in are the areas where they can run AMPS until the shutdown and still kill TDMA.
Rogers in Canada officially shut down their TDMA/AMPS network forever on May 31, they gave around.. 9 months for people to transist to GSM, with offers of yesteryear GSM phones.. which required a 3 year contract in some cases. A majority of the TDMA/AMPS customers switched over, with a few not.
Please see the following
http://www.fcc.gov./
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
June 15, 2007 Chelsea Fallon: (202) 418-7991
FCC MAINTAINS FEBRUARY 18, 2008 SUNSET OF CELLULAR LICENSEE ANALOG SERVICE REQUIREMNT
Washington, D.C. – In a Memorandum Opinion and Order (Order) released today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) denied a Petition for Rulemaking filed by the Alarm Industry Communications Committee and ADT Security Services, Inc., seeking a two-year extension of the requirement that cellular licensees provide analog service to subscribers and roamers whose equipment conforms to the Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS) standard.[1] Today’s decision upholds the analog cellular sunset date of February 18, 2008, after which cellular licenses may, but will no longer be required to, provide AMPS service.
The FCC found that its 2002 decision to adopt a five-year sunset of the analog service requirement had achieved its goal of facilitating the migration of the deaf and hard of hearing, and users of emergency-only analog cellular handsets, to digital handsets. Moreover, because analog handsets are not available with location capability, continuation of the analog service requirement could adversely impact deployment of E911 location capable digital handsets to all wireless consumers. The FCC found that the alarm industry has sufficient time and equipment to replace all analog alarm radios that are used as a primary communications path before the analog sunset date and that the public interest would not be served by extending the analog service requirement beyond February 18, 2008.
In today’s Order, the FCC also took three related actions to ensure the continuity of wireless service to consumers and to ensure that interested parties are fully informed of the analog sunset. First, the FCC ruled that before discontinuing analog service, cellular licensees must notify, at specified intervals, all of their analog-only subscribers of their intention to discontinue analog service. Second, the FCC provided a strong incentive for carriers to ensure that the discontinuance of analog service will not result in any loss of wireless coverage by permitting a carrier to certify that the discontinuance of analog service will not result in any loss of wireless coverage in a Cellular Geographic Service Area (CGSA).[2] Third, the FCC directed its Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, in conjunction with the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, to initiate a public outreach campaign to ensure that consumers, public safety groups, and other interested parties are aware of, and prepared for, the analog sunset in February 2008.
Action by the Commission on May 25, 2007 by Memorandum Opinion and Order (FCC 07-103). Chairman Martin and Commissioners Copps, Adelstein, Tate, and McDowell. Separate statements issued by Commissioners Copps and Adelstein.
For additional information, contact Joyce Jones, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at (202) 418-1327, or Joyce.Jones@fcc.gov.
RM No. 11355
– FCC –
News and other information about the Federal Communications Commission
are available at www.fcc.gov.
[1] The Commission has never imposed the technology-specific AMPS/analog service requirement on any other commercial mobile radio service providers, including PCS and SMR providers.
[2] Any carrier unable to make the certification must file a revised CGSA showing with the FCC. Any area of a CGSA no longer served by a cellular carrier with digital service following its discontinuance of analog service will be forfeited and available for reassignment by the FCC.
AT&T has been direct mailing and giving special discounts and promos to these customers for the last year at least. Time to switch 4G here we come!!!
Cingular bought the former AT&T Wireless for their 850MHz spectrum, since it is the sweet-spot for 3G and 4G goodies. They are forcing the TDMA users out of the spectrum. AT&T Wireless did similar many years ago when they went from analog to digital.
Don't be fooled by the comments about "no one is using TDMA" anymore...
I still don't see how AT&T is getting away with shutting down TDMA/AMPS early. Can anyone explain?
I understand that we must all upgrade our phones but how can they force us to upgrade our plans. I have a plan now with 1100 minutes for 49.99 and they are saying i will have to go with the going rate plans. i have even agreed to sign a 2 year contract, buy a new phone if I can keep my current rate plan.
I have the same issue as Kim W.
We have been loyal customers to Cingular since March of 2001. But now, it seems, they are not loyal to us.
Our plan had a monthly service fee of $19.98, with 250 minutes plus free nights and weekends. Pretty good plan, that was paid on time each month, just like loyal customers should. Perhaps not a lot of minutes for some, but perfect for us.
Then in July of 2006, they added a monthly network service charge of $4.99 per line for each TDMA or Analog line of service on the account (we have two lines). While we were not pleased, we remained loyal customers.
I upgraded my phone, then went to the AT&T store today to switch from TDMA to whatver the current network is (I don't care as long as my phone works). Imagine my disbelief when I found out I would have to sign up for a new plan! One that costs MORE, and with LESS minutes!
So much for loyalty!
I forgot to add, I walked out of the store. I will gladly take my money elsewhere. The other companies have similar plans as to what AT&T is now offering, but I would much rather give my money to them, than to a company that stabs its loyal customers in the back. There may obly 1% of us still on TDMA, but that amounts to SEVERAL hundrend thousand customers!
November 28, 2007 - I just spoke to ATT customer service. They said they have about 8% TDMA subscribers in the Washington DC area. They want me to switch to GSM so have been calling and sent me a Razor phone without my requesting it. They did charge my account the shipping. I have been a business subscriber since 1999. In talking to them they require that I agree to a new 2 year contract, still using my old rate plan, before the phone can be activiated.
QUESTION. I am not presently on a contract, the original has expired and I am Month-to-month. What options exist to use a new phone, any SIMPLE phone for the business, without the commitment to a new contract?
I would stay with ATT IF they offered me a reasonable deal in compensation for killing all the TDMA equipment I have bought. I do not like their Sign Or Die attitude. I will continue using the TDMA phone here and elsewhere in business travel and look for alternatives, such as cents/minute no contract service.
Has anyone heard of a way to get this company to do something reasonable for their subscribers? Any suggestions on what path to take?
Bob - bobcul@locul.com