Featured Stories
SAS, NC State Launch AI Think & Do Tank to Advance Health Research
CARY, North Carolina, Oct. 2 -- SAS Institute, a business analytics software and services provider, issued the following news release:
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SAS, NC State Launch AI Think & Do Tank to Advance Health Research
Research partnership applies data and AI to speed the path to new treatments and strengthen nutrition and environmental resilience
Cary, NC (Oct 01, 2026)
Fifty years after SAS grew out of an agricultural research project at North Carolina State University, the two organizations are launching a new research partnership to apply trusted data and AI to challenges in human health, nutrition
... Show Full Article
CARY, North Carolina, Oct. 2 -- SAS Institute, a business analytics software and services provider, issued the following news release:
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SAS, NC State Launch AI Think & Do Tank to Advance Health Research
Research partnership applies data and AI to speed the path to new treatments and strengthen nutrition and environmental resilience
Cary, NC (Oct 01, 2026)
Fifty years after SAS grew out of an agricultural research project at North Carolina State University, the two organizations are launching a new research partnership to apply trusted data and AI to challenges in human health, nutritionand environmental resilience.
SAS and NC State today announced the SAS Think & Do Tank, integrating SAS' data, AI and analytics expertise into interdisciplinary research through NC State's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The initiative is designed to move promising discoveries toward real-world impact while building trusted and responsible AI practices into the research from the start.
"The next generation of innovators will need more than powerful technology. They'll need the judgment to use it responsibly," said SAS CEO Jim Goodnight. "By connecting NC State's interdisciplinary research with SAS' data, AI and industry expertise, we can help students and researchers build trusted approaches to problems that matter."
"This partnership extends a relationship that has shaped discovery in North Carolina for decades," said NC State Chancellor Kevin Howell. "True to our Think and Do spirit, NC State and SAS will collaborate to create new opportunities for students, faculty and industry partners to apply AI in service of society."
Can AI help promising treatments reach patients faster?
One of the first research efforts will focus on translational predictive biology, an emerging field that uses advanced biological models, data and AI to better predict how diseases and potential treatments may behave in humans.
NC State researchers are building a process that connects studies in living systems with advanced lab models, including organoids, small, simplified versions of organs grown from cells, and organ-on-chip technologies that mimic aspects of human organ function.
The long-term promise is significant: Better predictive models could help researchers identify promising treatments earlier, understand why interventions succeed or fail, and reduce the time and cost required to move new therapies toward clinical use.
But the work also creates a difficult data challenge. Researchers can collect enormous detail across cells, tissues, molecular pathways and time, but from relatively few biological subjects. Conventional AI models can struggle in this environment, identifying patterns that may not hold up across studies or translate from one biological system to another.
The team will explore statistical and AI approaches designed for these complex datasets. The models will aim to account for biological relationships, quantify uncertainty and help researchers understand why a model reaches a conclusion.
The effort will give researchers more actionable insight into biological responses and better evidence for deciding which potential interventions warrant further study.
Over time, the work could also help create AI-ready research datasets that allow scientists to compare findings across studies, identify new patterns and generate new hypotheses.
SAS will serve as a technical partner across the research working groups, providing data and AI software, expertise and responsible AI guidance. Faculty and students will gain hands-on experience applying advanced analytics to active research while emphasizing ethical data practices and transparency.
A partnership 50 years in the making
Designed as a scalable two-year pilot, the Think & Do Tank will establish a governance and research collaboration model that could eventually extend to additional disciplines and institutions. It aligns with SAS' broader Trust in Innovation efforts and NC State's "Think and Do" approach to turning knowledge into impact.
For SAS, the partnership brings its story with NC State full circle: returning to the place where the company began to invest in the next generation of research, technology and talent.
Learn more about how SAS supports students, educators and independent learners in developing data and AI expertise.
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About SAS
SAS is a global leader in data and AI, helping organizations make confident decisions with AI they can trust. For decades, SAS has set the standard for delivering software that drives meaningful impact, incorporating deep industry expertise, transparency and governance. SAS gives you THE POWER TO KNOW(R).
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Original text here: https://www.sas.com/en_us/news/press-releases/2026/october/ncstate-think-and-do-tank.html
[Category: BizComputer Technology]
Ropes & Gray Honored With Deal of the Year Recognition at 2026 Los Angeles Business Journal M&A Awards
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Oct. 2 -- Ropes and Gray, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Ropes & Gray Honored with Deal of the Year Recognition at 2026 Los Angeles Business Journal M&A Awards
October 1, 2026
Ropes & Gray's representation of the co-founders and CEO of Guess? in the $1.4 billion take-private of Guess?, Inc. by Authentic Brands Group LLC has been recognized as Deal of the Year ($1 Billion+) at the 2026 Los Angeles Business Journal M&A Awards.
The all-cash transaction, which valued Guess? at approximately $1.4 billion, represented the largest apparel licensing deal in history
... Show Full Article
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Oct. 2 -- Ropes and Gray, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Ropes & Gray Honored with Deal of the Year Recognition at 2026 Los Angeles Business Journal M&A Awards
October 1, 2026
Ropes & Gray's representation of the co-founders and CEO of Guess? in the $1.4 billion take-private of Guess?, Inc. by Authentic Brands Group LLC has been recognized as Deal of the Year ($1 Billion+) at the 2026 Los Angeles Business Journal M&A Awards.
The all-cash transaction, which valued Guess? at approximately $1.4 billion, represented the largest apparel licensing deal in historyand the second-largest apparel transaction in 2025.
The Ropes & Gray team was led by IP transactions partner Erica Han and M&A partners Tara Fisher and Christopher Comeau.
The Los Angeles Business Journal M&A Awards, presented in partnership with ACG Los Angeles, honor the transactions and professionals shaping Southern California's dealmaking landscape.
The program celebrates the Deals of the Year, recognizing standout mergers and acquisitions that demonstrated strategic vision and market impact, as well as the Dealmakers of the Year across the advisory community. This recognition underscores the strength and depth of Ropes & Gray's M&A practice and its commitment to delivering exceptional results for clients across complex, high-profile transactions.
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Original text here: https://www.ropesgray.com/en/news-and-events/rankings-and-awards/2026/10/ropes-gray-honored-with-deal-of-the-year-recognition-los-angeles-business-journal
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Morgan Lewis Promotes 32 Lawyers to Partner
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, Oct. 2 -- Morgan Lewis, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Morgan Lewis Promotes 32 Lawyers to Partner
PHILADELPHIA, October 1, 2026: Morgan Lewis is pleased to announce that 32 lawyers from 13 offices and 11 practices have been promoted to partner, effective October 1, 2026.
"These outstanding lawyers have earned this major accomplishment through elite legal work, exceptional commitment to our clients, and profound contributions to our culture," said Firm Chair David McManus. "Representing practices, offices, and backgrounds from across our firm
... Show Full Article
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, Oct. 2 -- Morgan Lewis, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Morgan Lewis Promotes 32 Lawyers to Partner
PHILADELPHIA, October 1, 2026: Morgan Lewis is pleased to announce that 32 lawyers from 13 offices and 11 practices have been promoted to partner, effective October 1, 2026.
"These outstanding lawyers have earned this major accomplishment through elite legal work, exceptional commitment to our clients, and profound contributions to our culture," said Firm Chair David McManus. "Representing practices, offices, and backgrounds from across our firmglobally, they have in common the qualities we expect of every Morgan Lewis partner: judgment, leadership, integrity, and a determination to deliver excellent client service every day. Congratulations to our new partners on this profound milestone."
The new partners are:
Elizabeth A. Bright
Labor & Employment
Century City
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Paul Costa
Finance
Boston
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Andrew DeCarlow
Litigation
Seattle
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James E. Doench
Investment Management
New York
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Jeff Goldman
Litigation
Boston
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Alexandra M. Good
Corporate & Business Transactions
Pittsburgh
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Matthew Gubernikoff
Structured Transactions
Chicago
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JiaZhen Guo
Telecommunications, Media & Technology
Washington, DC
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Carson Haddow
Energy & Infrastructure
Boston
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Tyler J. Hill
Labor & Employment
Dallas
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Michelle Catchur Kennedy
Corporate & Business Transactions
Philadelphia
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Jesse S. Krompier
Litigation
Los Angeles
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Zachary R. Lazar
Litigation
Chicago
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Ester Lee
Tax
New York
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Michael J. Madderra
FDA & Healthcare
Seattle
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Richard J. Marks
Labor & Employment
Washington, DC
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Hanna E. Martin
Labor & Employment
New York
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Kathleen M. Martin
Corporate & Business Transactions
New York
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Zachary D. Miller
Intellectual Property
Chicago
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Lindsay R. Mozdziock
Corporate & Business Transactions
Philadelphia
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Brian P. O'Donnell
Intellectual Property
Chicago
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Alia M. Orbin, Ph.D.
Intellectual Property
Philadelphia
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Esther H. Phu
Corporate & Business Transactions
San Francisco
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Samuel S. Sadeghi
Labor & Employment
Orange County
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Maria L. Sasinoski
Corporate & Business Transactions
Pittsburgh
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Terese M. Schireson
Litigation
Philadelphia
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Nathan T. Shapiro
Litigation
New York
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Benjamin W. Stango
Finance
Philadelphia
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Davis C. Truslow
Corporate & Business Transactions
Boston
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Katherine A. Vaky
Litigation
Pittsburgh
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Jonathan Wilcon
Energy & Infrastructure
Hartford
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Samuel E. Worth
Corporate & Business Transactions
New York
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Original text here: https://www.morganlewis.com/news/2026/10/morgan-lewis-promotes-32-lawyers-to-partner
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Fisher Phillips Issues Insight: California's New Workplace Laws Put AI and Employee Monitoring in the Spotlight - Your Full Guide to 11 Bills Just Signed
ATLANTA, Georgia, Oct. 2 -- Fisher Phillips, a law firm, issued the following Insight:
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California's New Workplace Laws Put AI and Employee Monitoring in the Spotlight: Your Full Guide to 11 Bills Just Signed (and 1 Vetoed)
Oct 1, 2026
California will soon require a human to sign off before AI can be the main basis for firing someone, force employers to disclose when AI drives a mass layoff, ban AI tools that read employees' emotions, and let workers leave tracking devices behind when they use the bathroom. These are among 11 new bills signed by Governor Gavin Newsom over the last few
... Show Full Article
ATLANTA, Georgia, Oct. 2 -- Fisher Phillips, a law firm, issued the following Insight:
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California's New Workplace Laws Put AI and Employee Monitoring in the Spotlight: Your Full Guide to 11 Bills Just Signed (and 1 Vetoed)
Oct 1, 2026
California will soon require a human to sign off before AI can be the main basis for firing someone, force employers to disclose when AI drives a mass layoff, ban AI tools that read employees' emotions, and let workers leave tracking devices behind when they use the bathroom. These are among 11 new bills signed by Governor Gavin Newsom over the last fewdays that will require employers to reshape their workplace policies and practices. The Governor also signed laws raising pay data reporting penalties, setting a new agricultural minimum wage, delaying the state's stay-or-pay ban, expanding bereavement leave, adding a hate speech component to harassment training, and giving Cal/OSHA new enforcement teeth. On the flip side, he vetoed a bill that would have added menopause protections to state anti-discrimination law. Most of the new laws take effect January 1, 2027, so you have about three months to get ready. Here's a quick summary of each one with links to our full Insights for a deeper dive - and practical steps you can take to ensure full compliance.
* Listen in: Want to hear more about these new laws? The head of our California Government Relations team, Ben Ebbink, will break them all down on a special episode of The FP5: Five Things for Your 9-to-5 podcast, dropping Thursday, October 8. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Amazon Music so you don't miss it.
AI in the Workplace
Humans must sign off before AI disciplines or fires workers (SB 947). California will be the first state to require a person to independently confirm the call before an employer "primarily relies" on an AI tool to discipline or terminate an existing employee. Governor Newsom signed the so-called "No Robo Bosses Act" after vetoing a broader version last year. You will need a human reviewer to corroborate the tool's output using supervisory evaluations, personnel files, work product, or similar evidence, and you will have to hand the employee a standalone written notice at the moment you deliver the decision. Employees can also request a description of their own data the system used over the past 12 months. The law applies only to current employees (not applicants), carries a $500 penalty per violation, and takes effect July 1, 2027. Click here to read the full Insight.
WARN notices must disclose when AI causes a mass layoff (SB 951). Starting January 1, 2027, any mass layoff, relocation, or termination caused "in whole or in substantial part" by AI or other automation will require four new disclosures in your California WARN Act notice. These include the statement "This notice is for a technology displacement" at the top of the notice, the number and type of affected positions, the job functions being automated, and the category of technology responsible. And because the state will publish a quarterly summary of technology displacements, your information could draw attention from the public, unions, and plaintiffs' attorneys. Click here to read the full Insight.
AI tools can't read employees' emotions or nervous system data (AB 1883). Employers will be barred from using AI-powered workplace surveillance tools to recognize or predict an employee's emotional state or to collect "neural data" from an employee's nervous system. That likely reaches sentiment and mood features in contact center, collaboration, and HR analytics platforms (including tools that analyze emails and chats), as well as EEG headbands and neurotech earbuds that track focus or fatigue. There is an exception for tools used to ensure safety, though how broadly it applies remains an open question. Violations carry penalties of up to $500 each, and while the final bill dropped an express private right of action, expect plaintiffs' attorneys to test the law through PAGA claims. The ban takes effect January 1, 2027. Click here to read the full Insight.
Workplace Surveillance and Privacy
Relief from some website tracking lawsuits (SB 690). Here's some welcome news for any business with a website or app. Over the past few years, plaintiffs' lawyers have filed thousands of demand letters and lawsuits arguing that ordinary cookies, pixels, and analytics tools violate the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA), a 1967 wiretapping law, with statutory damages of at least $5,000 per violation. SB 690 eliminates private lawsuits over website and app-based "pen register" and "trap-and-trace" claims starting January 1, 2027, leaving enforcement to the Attorney General. It also applies retroactively to pending claims filed within the prior two years. But the law doesn't touch the CIPA wiretapping claims behind much of the current litigation, and plaintiffs are expected to challenge the retroactivity provision. If you have a pending claim or demand letter, talk to your FP counsel about how the new law affects your matter. Click here to read the full Insight.
Employees can leave tracking tools behind when using the bathroom (AB 1331). Starting January 1, 2027, you can't use a workplace surveillance tool to monitor employees in a workplace bathroom unless a court orders it. That sounds simple, but the law defines "surveillance tool" broadly enough to reach access badges, wearables, geolocation on company phones, and time-tracking software that logs idle time. Employees can also set down any such tool before entering a bathroom, and you can't discipline them for it. There are limited exceptions for employees who must stay available during breaks, for a one-time badge swipe to enter or exit, and for ID or safety devices you require employees to carry (but only if the device doesn't record audio or video and has no embedded AI). What you can't do is use restroom access data to track how often or how long someone is in there. Violations carry penalties of up to $500 each, and expect plaintiffs' attorneys to test whether PAGA claims are available. Click here to read the full Insight.
Pay and Compensation
Pay data reporting penalties jump fivefold for repeat failures (SB 1237). California employers with 100 or more employees (or 100 or more workers hired through labor contractors) must file an annual pay data report with the Civil Rights Department. Under SB 1237, the maximum penalty for a subsequent failure to file rises from $200 to $1,000 per employee, while the cap for a first violation stays at $100 per employee. That means an employer with 1,000 reportable employees could face up to $1 million for a second missed filing. Because a law that took effect this year already made these penalties mandatory once the agency asks a court to impose them, there's little room for excuses like a technical glitch or a misread deadline. The next report is due May 12, 2027, the first cycle where the higher penalty could apply, so now is the time to confirm coverage, lock in data from labor contractors, and cure any past non-filing. Click here to read the full Insight.
New agricultural minimum wage nears $20 per hour (AB 2646). Starting January 1, 2027, agricultural employers will need to pay $19.75 per hour to H-2A guestworkers and to "corresponding employees," with annual cost-of-living adjustments beginning in 2028. That's well above the statewide minimum wage, which will be $17.40 in 2027. The higher rate will also drive up meal and rest period premiums, reporting time pay, split shift premiums, and waiting time penalties. Click here to read the full Insight.
More time to prepare for the stay-or-pay ban (AB 1697). Last year's AB 692 barred employers from requiring workers to repay training costs or pay other fees if they leave their job, with exceptions for certain tuition repayment and sign-on bonus arrangements. That ban was set to apply to contracts entered on or after January 1, 2026, but AB 1697 pushes the start date to January 1, 2027, and makes the law inoperative for all of 2026, which shields employers from liability for agreements signed this year. The new law also adds exceptions for grant-funded recruitment and retention programs, repayment of advance PTO when an employee voluntarily separates, and certain affiliation contracts for broker-dealers, insurance producers, and investment advisers. Use the extra time to fine-tune your tuition reimbursement and retention bonus agreements, but don't amend or revoke your existing agreements. Click here to read the full Insight.
Leave, Training, and Workplace Safety
Bereavement leave expands to extended and chosen family (SB 1149). California's bereavement leave law currently covers only the death of a spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, domestic partner, or parent-in-law. Starting January 1, 2027, employees can also take bereavement leave for the death of a "designated person," meaning anyone related to them by blood or whose association with them is the equivalent of a family relationship. That covers aunts, uncles, and cousins, as well as close friends with family-like bonds. Click here to read the full Insight.
Harassment prevention training must cover hate speech (AB 1803). California employers with five or more employees will need to add an anti-hate speech component to their required sexual harassment prevention training beginning January 1, 2028. The training must give supervisors and employees practical guidance on recognizing, reporting, and confronting workplace speech that vilifies, humiliates, or incites hatred against people based on protected characteristics. The good news is that the law doesn't require a separate program or add to the required training time. If your current training already addresses prohibited harassment and abusive conduct based on protected characteristics, it will satisfy the new requirement. Review your content and talk to your training vendors now so you're ready well before the deadline. Click here to read the full Insight.
Cal/OSHA gets more enforcement power, and interference becomes a crime (AB 2321). Starting January 1, 2027, Cal/OSHA's Bureau of Investigations (BOI) will have to promptly investigate a wider range of workplace incidents, including serious illnesses and exposures (not just injuries), as well as any serious incident tied to a willful violation citation. The BOI will also need to notify prosecutors immediately when it learns of certain serious incidents, rather than waiting until its investigation is done. Most significantly, it will become a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in county jail plus a fine, to willfully resist or interfere with Cal/OSHA in the performance of its duties. Now is the time to build an inspection response plan and train leaders to recognize that a serious incident could trigger civil and criminal investigations at the same time. Click here to read the full Insight.
What Didn't Make It: Menopause Protections Vetoed
Governor vetoes menopause bill (AB 1940). Not every workplace bill crossed the finish line. Somewhat surprisingly, Governor Newsom vetoed AB 1940, which would have expanded the definition of "sex" under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) to explicitly include perimenopause, menopause, postmenopause, and related medical conditions. The Governor's veto message explained that existing law covers these conditions and that the bill could have unintentionally led to an explosion of litigation. Expect California lawmakers to try again next year with a new Governor in office.
* Don't miss the special podcast episode! Ben Ebbink joins The FP5: Five Things for Your 9-to-5 podcast on Thursday, October 8, to walk through these new laws and what they mean for your business. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Amazon Music to get the episode as soon as it drops.
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Related People
Benjamin M. Ebbink
Partner
bebbink@fisherphillips.com
916/210-0400
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Original text here: https://www.fisherphillips.com/en/insights/insights/californias-new-workplace-laws-put-ai-and-employee-monitoring-in-the-spotlight
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Duke Energy Announces Dividend Payments to Shareholders
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, Oct. 2 -- Duke Energy issued the following news release:
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Duke Energy announces dividend payments to shareholders
October 1, 2026
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) today declared a quarterly cash dividend on its common stock of $1.085 per share. This dividend is payable on Dec. 16, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Nov. 13, 2026.
The company also declared a quarterly cash dividend on its Series A preferred stock of $359.375 per share payable on Dec. 16, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Nov. 13, 2026.
... Show Full Article
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, Oct. 2 -- Duke Energy issued the following news release:
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Duke Energy announces dividend payments to shareholders
October 1, 2026
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) today declared a quarterly cash dividend on its common stock of $1.085 per share. This dividend is payable on Dec. 16, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Nov. 13, 2026.
The company also declared a quarterly cash dividend on its Series A preferred stock of $359.375 per share payable on Dec. 16, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Nov. 13, 2026.
This is equivalent to $0.359375 per depositary share.
Duke Energy has paid a cash dividend on its common stock for 100 consecutive years.
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Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,700 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Kentucky.
Duke Energy is executing an energy modernization strategy, keeping customer value at the forefront as it invests in electric grid upgrades and efficient generation resources to strengthen the system and serve growing energy needs.
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Original text here: https://news.duke-energy.com/releases/duke-energy-announces-dividend-payments-to-shareholders-6928288
[Category: BizEnergy]
Dentons Strengthens IP Practice With Addition of Two Partners
WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 -- Dentons, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Dentons strengthens IP practice with addition of two partners
October 1, 2026
Dentons is pleased to announce the addition of partners Patrick Rasche and Rachel Bennett to its Intellectual Property and Technology team in the US. Their experience bolsters Dentons' IP capabilities across patent preparation and prosecution, licensing, litigation and strategic portfolio management, serving clients ranging from emerging companies to global manufacturers.
Pat counsels companies and individuals on the protection and enforcement
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 -- Dentons, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Dentons strengthens IP practice with addition of two partners
October 1, 2026
Dentons is pleased to announce the addition of partners Patrick Rasche and Rachel Bennett to its Intellectual Property and Technology team in the US. Their experience bolsters Dentons' IP capabilities across patent preparation and prosecution, licensing, litigation and strategic portfolio management, serving clients ranging from emerging companies to global manufacturers.
Pat counsels companies and individuals on the protection and enforcementof their intellectual property. Registered to practice before the US Patent and Trademark Office, he assists clients with securing and managing US and foreign patent portfolios across a broad range of technologies.
Rachel's practice focuses on patent preparation and prosecution, IP licensing and litigation. Her practice encompasses patent matters involving autonomous driving, machine learning, electrical technologies, medical imaging systems as well as medical devices, mechanical devices, computer software technologies, and bioengineering. Fluent in Chinese, she regularly counsels clients on IP prosecution and enforcement strategies in China.
"Dentons delivers a seamless experience for clients like mine who need to protect their intellectual capital across the world. I'm excited to join Dentons, where I can continue serving clients as their portfolios and footprints expand," said Pat Rasche.
"As the IP landscape continues to evolve, having the resources and collaborative culture of Dentons is a tremendous asset. I look forward to working with my new colleagues across the firm to deliver innovative and tailored solutions for clients," said Rachel Bennett.
"We are thrilled to welcome Rachel and Pat to the Dentons office in Indianapolis," said Keith Bice, Managing Partner. "Their combined experience in patent law, deep technical backgrounds and strong client relationships enhance our ability to serve clients with complex intellectual property needs across the US and beyond. Their addition to our team reflects our continued commitment to adding top-tier talent and delivering best-in-class IP counsel."
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About Dentons
Redefining possibilities. Together, everywhere. For more information visit dentons.com
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Original text here: https://www.dentons.com/en/about-dentons/news-events-and-awards/news/2026/october/dentons-strengthens-ip-practice-with-addition-of-two-partners
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon Launch Joint Venture That Helps End Dead Zones
DALLAS, Texas, Oct. 2 -- AT&T issued the following news release:
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DALLAS and BELLEVUE, Wash. and NEW YORK, October 01, 2026
AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon Launch Joint Venture That Helps End Dead Zones; Name Paul Roth Interim CEO
Key Takeaways:
* Industry veteran establishes leadership framework for joint venture (JV).
* JV will help close coverage gaps by making satellite-enabled connectivity easier to deliver where traditional service is limited.
* The JV is designed to complement terrestrial mobile networks, giving customers even more reliable connectivity and choice.
* JV will support
... Show Full Article
DALLAS, Texas, Oct. 2 -- AT&T issued the following news release:
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DALLAS and BELLEVUE, Wash. and NEW YORK, October 01, 2026
AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon Launch Joint Venture That Helps End Dead Zones; Name Paul Roth Interim CEO
Key Takeaways:
* Industry veteran establishes leadership framework for joint venture (JV).
* JV will help close coverage gaps by making satellite-enabled connectivity easier to deliver where traditional service is limited.
* The JV is designed to complement terrestrial mobile networks, giving customers even more reliable connectivity and choice.
* JV will supportindustry competition and innovation while allowing existing carrier-satellite agreements to remain in place.
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AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon have entered into a joint venture agreement focused on expanding coverage in underserved areas across the U.S. This follows a May announcement that the companies would pool limited spectrum resources to help eliminate coverage "dead zones" and expand satellite coverage for customers nationwide.
Leadership
Paul Roth will serve as interim CEO of the JV while an active search is underway for a permanent CEO. Roth is a seasoned wireless industry executive, who previously held several leadership roles at AT&T, Cingular Wireless, and Ameritech.
The JV will be managed by a board with representatives from each founding member.
Customer Benefits
Terrestrial mobile networks will continue to deliver the high-quality experience customers expect every day. However, reliable connectivity has never been more important. In areas where traditional cell service is a challenge, the JV will aim to provide customers with stronger, even more reliable connectivity and greater choice.
* Fewer coverage gaps: Will nearly eliminate dead zones in the U.S. currently without mobile service, reaching previously unserved areas.
* Reliable connectivity in emergencies: Redundant connectivity will become available when existing ground-based networks are unavailable due to extreme natural disasters or other unusual disruptions.
* Improved network performance: Will give customers more consistent performance and simpler access to satellite services across providers. This will speed up feature updates and improve connectivity for everyone, everywhere.
* Innovative communications services: Through combined investment by the three JV partners, provider options will expand, and, as a first step, direct-to-device (D2D) access will improve. This will enhance competition as consumer choices grow in satellite service. Emerging communications technologies can be more easily and quickly developed and launched to enhance customer experience.
* Common technical specifications: A unified approach will provide a better and more consistent customer experience across the industry.
Industry Benefits
The JV will aim to drive industry progress by enabling competition, fostering innovation, expanding access, and simplifying integration, delivering significant benefits for satellite and mobile connectivity.
* Expanded access: More satellite service providers will gain opportunities to compete, invest, and grow and the JV will work with rural mobile network operators (MNO) to enable them to bring new products to market for their customers.
* Easy technical integration: MNOs will be able to deploy innovative new services for customers more quickly.
* Technology-neutral innovation platform: By applying the best technology solutions to the right use cases, connectivity will expand to areas across the country where coverage is currently limited or unavailable, further strengthening U.S. technology leadership.
* Efficient use of spectrum: Will improve the application and utilization of valuable and scarce nationally licensed spectrum resources.
* Industrywide device compatibility: User experience will improve on satellite networks, with a standards-based approach to development involving operating system providers, mobile app developers and original equipment manufacturers.
Existing carrier-satellite agreements will remain in place and the JV partners can continue connectivity efforts independently.
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About AT&T
We help more than 100 million U.S. families, friends and neighbors, plus nearly 2.5 million businesses, connect to greater possibility. From the first phone call 150 years ago to our 5G wireless and multi-gig internet offerings today, we @ATT innovate to improve lives. For more information about AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T), please visit us at about.att.com. Investors can learn more at investors.att.com.
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About T-Mobile US, Inc.
As the supercharged Un-carrier, T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) is powered by an award-winning 5G network that connects more people, in more places, than ever before. With T-Mobile's unique value proposition of best network, best value and best experiences, the Un-carrier is redefining connectivity and fueling competition while continuing to drive the next wave of innovation in wireless and beyond. Headquartered in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile and Mint Mobile. For more information please visit: https://www.t-mobile.com.
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About Verizon Communications Inc.
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) powers and empowers how its millions of customers live, work and play, delivering on their demand for mobility, reliable network connectivity and security. Headquartered in New York City, serving countries worldwide and nearly all of the Fortune 500, Verizon generated revenues of $138.2 billion in 2025. Verizon's world-class team never stops innovating to meet customers where they are today and equip them for the needs of tomorrow. For more, visit verizon.com or find a retail location at verizon.com/stores.
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URL: T-Mobile US
URL: Verizon Communications
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Original text here: https://about.att.com/story/2026/jv-help-end-dead-zones.html
[Category: BizTelecommunications]
