AT&T PR Fail

Want to make a bunch of Austinites angry? Be like AT&T and exploit our street art

You don't mess with Texas, and you don't mess with Austin street art. Austinites are taking to social media to voice their frustration after AT&T took beloved street art and murals and Photoshopped them to advertise their new AT&T U-verse high-speed internet service.

Taking the iconic "I love you so much" at Jo's Coffee on South Congress and the "Focus on one point and breathe" that once graced the Union Pacific railroad bridge spanning Lady Bird Lake, the telecommunications giant replaced the art with with ads reading "gigapower."

Oh, AT&T, you didn't.

Naturally, folks in Austin are unimpressed. After the service (and subsequent ad campaign) launched yesterday, folks began commenting furiously on the AT&T U-verse Facebook page about the campaign penning such gems as:

"Marketing fail — you clearly don't understand your target market. Eff You AT&T."

"I will not, now or ever be using AT&T's services after this outrageous and obscenely offensive PR stunt."

"The funny thing is that AT&T doesn't realize how big of a douchebag ad this is... they probably thought it would help them in Austin."

"This pisses me off."

Some folks were worried that AT&T went so far as to actually replace the art but rest assured — it's just an arguably shoddy Photoshop job.

The new ads arrived on the same day as a disturbing Washington Post article was published criticizing AT&T for offering a cheaper version of U-verse to Austin residents in exchange for access to private information about the users. Writes Brian Fung, "AT&T appears to value Austinites' privacy at just under $350 a year."

Fung continues, "If this model spreads, however, Americans are going to have to start putting a real dollar figure on their freedom from online snooping."

And don't expect this to be the last of the "look how hip we are" tactics from AT&T. With Google's high-speed alternative Fiber expected to hit the Austin market in a few months, we're guaranteed to see a few more of these publicity stunts from both parties.

This advertisement ran on Facebook on December 12.

Screenshot by Katie Friel

This advertisement ran on Facebook on December 12.

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WFH life

Austin plugs in as 2nd cheapest large U.S. city for remote workers

Photo by Lewis Guapo on Unsplash

Working remotely in Austin is far more affordable than many other U.S. cities.

Austin's thriving telework industry is already known for being among the most prominent in the country, and as it turns out, it's one of the most affordable, too. A recent study by online retailer The Perfect Rug has revealed Austin is the No. 2 cheapest U.S. city center for remote work.

The report ranked the top 10 largest U.S. cities based on population data, the number of coworking spaces and cafes per capita, statewide average internet speeds, average apartment rent prices, and more.

Austin falls second to the far west Texas city of El Paso (No. 1), and is followed by Houston in the No. 3 spot.

When it comes to finding the best place to work remotely, Austin has an abundance of options including coffee shops, coworking spaces, and local library branches. According to the report's data, there are about six coworking spaces and 26 cafes per capita in the city, but Austinites know best that there is a much wider variety of places to work from "home" than whatever number a study determines.

The average internet speed in Texas is 425.9 mbps (megabits per second), which is the fourth-highest internet speed out of the six total states (and the District of Columbia) mentioned in the study. Pennsylvania, Washington, and Washington, D.C. all have faster average internet speeds, at 430.8, 451, and 473.8 mpbs, respectively.

The Perfect Rug also calculated the average costs for meals, coffee, and monthly rent in Austin:

$1,467 per month – Average apartment rent cost in central Austin
$21 per hour – Average cost for a desk at a coworking space
$16.99 – Average cost for a meal
$5.36 – Average cost for a coffee

Furthermore, Austin-based remote workers are technically saving on fuel costs compared to those who have to commute into the city daily for their jobs.

A spokesperson for The Perfect Rug said Texas cities like El Paso, Austin, and Houston are far more popular for "budget-conscious" remote workers partially because rent costs are far lower in comparison to many other U.S. cities.

"On the other hand, cities like Washington, D.C., and Seattle, while more expensive, compensate with faster internet speeds and a higher density of workspaces, which can enhance the remote work experience," the spokesperson said. "Finding the right balance between cost and amenities is key for remote workers seeking both productivity and affordability."

Elsewhere in Texas, San Antonio ranked as the fifth most affordable city for teleworkers, followed by Dallas (No. 7).

The top 10 cheapest U.S. cities for remote workers are:

No. 1 – El Paso, Texas
No. 2 – Austin, Texas
No. 3 – Houston, Texas
No. 4 – Seattle, Washington
No. 5 – San Antonio, Texas
No. 6 – Washington, D.C.
No. 7 – Dallas, Texas
No. 8 – Denver, Colorado
No. 9 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
No. 10 – Nashville, Tennessee

austin reports rankings remote work

AT&T PR Fail

Want to make a bunch of Austinites angry? Be like AT&T and exploit our street art

This advertisement ran on Facebook on December 12.

WFH life

Austin plugs in as 2nd cheapest large U.S. city for remote workers

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