Charter Voluntarily Discontinues Certain Spectrum Mobile Comparative Claims Following AT&T’s National Advertising Division Challenge

For Immediate Release
Contact: Abby Hills, Director of Communications, BBB National Programs

703.247.9330 / press@bbbnp.org

New York, NY – December 22, 2022 – In a BBB National Programs National Advertising Division (NAD) challenge brought by competitor AT&T Services, Inc., Charter Communications, Inc., d/b/a Spectrum, voluntarily discontinued certain comparative speed and reliability claims for its Spectrum Mobile services vs. AT&T Wireless. 

AT&T Services challenged claims made in three television commercials that:

  • Spectrum Mobile is the “most reliable” mobile service. 
  • Spectrum Mobile is more reliable than AT&T Wireless.
  • Spectrum Mobile has faster mobile data speeds than AT&T Wireless.
  • Unlike Spectrum Mobile, AT&T Wireless lacks the “speed you need to stream and connect in more places.”
  • Spectrum Mobile is America’s “leading” mobile service provider. 

 

In response to the challenge, Charter informed NAD that it had permanently discontinued the express “leading mobile service provider” claim and “most reliable mobile service” claim for independent business reasons. Charter also informed NAD that it would permanently discontinue the remaining comparative speed and reliability claims in the way they were alleged to be conveyed. Therefore, NAD did not review the claims on their merits.

In its advertiser statement, Charter stated that “Spectrum is proud of the unique combination of performance and value that it offers wireless customers throughout the nation and thanks NAD for its attention to this matter.”

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