People notified about a February 2025 cyberattack involving Communications Data Group may be able to choose $45 cash, seek reimbursement of documented losses, or enroll in credit monitoring under a proposed class action settlement. The deadline to submit a valid claim is November 10, 2026.
Who may be covered
The settlement class generally includes U.S. residents whose private information was potentially affected by the incident. The official notice says Communications Data Group systems were involved and identifies Duo County Telephone Cooperative, Cumberland Cellular and Home Wireless among the defendants. The information at issue may have included names, addresses, dates of birth, driver’s license information, bank account information and Social Security numbers.
The defendants deny wrongdoing and liability. The court has not decided the merits of the claims. The settlement will provide benefits only if it receives final approval and becomes effective.
Three benefit choices
Eligible class members may choose among three benefit paths. One option seeks reimbursement of actual, documented and unreimbursed losses that were more likely than not caused by the incident. The maximum is $5,000, and the notice says qualifying expenses must have been incurred on or after February 2025. Examples listed in the notice include fraud or identity-theft expenses, professional fees, credit-freeze costs, certain credit-monitoring costs, and reasonable communication or mailing expenses. Records are required to support this type of claim.
A documented-loss claimant may also request three years of CyEx credit monitoring through one major credit bureau. The notice says the monitoring includes at least $1 million in identity-theft insurance with no deductible.
The second choice is a one-time $45 cash payment. This alternative does not require loss documentation, but it replaces both documented-loss reimbursement and credit monitoring. A claimant cannot receive the $45 payment and either of those other benefits.
The third choice is the three-year credit-monitoring benefit by itself. It does not require loss documents, although every benefit choice still requires a timely, valid Claim Form.
How to submit a claim
Claim Forms are available from CommunicationsDataGroupSettlement.com. A claimant may submit online by November 10, 2026 or mail a completed and signed form postmarked by that date. People requesting documented-loss reimbursement should include records showing the expense and its connection to the incident. The administrator may ask for more information before deciding a claim.
Approved benefits will not be distributed until the settlement is finally approved and any appeals are resolved. The notice does not promise a specific payment or activation date.
Other deadlines and the hearing
Class members who want to leave the settlement must mail an exclusion request postmarked by October 26, 2026. Excluding yourself means receiving no settlement benefit, but it preserves the ability to pursue the released claims separately, subject to applicable deadlines and defenses.
A class member who stays in the settlement may object by October 26, 2026. The official notice lists required details for an objection, including the reasons for objecting and information about counsel, witnesses, exhibits and prior class action objections.
The final approval hearing is scheduled for November 16, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. Central Time in Champaign County, Illinois. The court may change the schedule or permit remote attendance. Claimants should use the official settlement website for the Claim Form, the complete notice and current updates.