Consumers Affected
500
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong announced an investigation into Altice Optimum based on nearly 500 consumer complaints regarding slow internet speeds, hidden fees, and poor customer service. The investigation, launched under the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act, seeks records dating back to January 2017 to determine potential violations. This follows a prior $60 million settlement with Frontier Communications for similar consumer protection issues.
In-house legal teams should prioritize reviewing all customer-facing service agreements, including residential internet service contracts and terms of service. Specific clauses to scrutinize are: (1) Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and speed guarantee clauses to ensure advertised speeds (e.g., 300/400 Mbps) are contractually guaranteed with clear remedies for failure; (2) Fee disclosure and billing transparency sections to identify and eliminate ambiguous or undisclosed fees like the 'Network Enhancement Fee'; (3) Customer service and technical support commitments, including response time guarantees; and (4) Termination provisions related to service failures. Contracts may need revision to include measurable performance metrics, explicit fee schedules, and clear consumer remedies for non-compliance, aligning with state unfair trade practices standards.
Entity
Altice Optimum
Industry
Telecommunications$500K
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong announced settlements with SunRun, Inc., Elevate Solar Solutions, and two salespeople over allegations of deceptive solar sales, including impersonating consumers and locking homeowners into long-term contracts without consent. SunRun must pay $300,000 and provide consumer relief; Elevate and the salespeople face a stated $200,000 penalty, with $100,000 suspended subject to ongoing compliance.
$8.0M
Connecticut announced an $8 million settlement with Mylan over allegations that it used agreements to delay generic EpiPen competitors and took other actions that inflated prices. Mylan also agreed to provide 10,000 free EpiPens; the release states that Mylan denies wrongdoing.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief challenging DHS’s policy and practice of conducting warrantless civil immigration arrests. The press release describes a court challenge, not a privacy enforcement action or monetary penalty.
$625K
Connecticut reached a $625,000 settlement with Frontier Communications Parent Inc. over an April 2024 breach in which compromised employee and vendor credentials were used to access internal systems and exfiltrate unencrypted personal information of 58,841 Connecticut residents. The settlement requires Frontier to strengthen its security program, implement specific safeguards and training, and obtain an independent third-party assessment.
$2.6M
Connecticut and New York found that Boston Children’s Health Physicians and its security vendor, XTIUM, failed to use reasonable safeguards, resulting in hackers accessing sensitive personal, medical, and employee information. The companies agreed to pay penalties totaling $2.64 million and implement enhanced cybersecurity measures.
Connecticut joined a coalition of state attorneys general filing a notice in Character Technologies, Inc.’s bankruptcy proceedings, raising concerns about the company’s safety and privacy practices and the sensitive information it holds. The states seek protections for children and consumers if the company’s business or assets are sold or transferred; the filing does not impose a fine or other remedy.