CCA Emphasizes Negative Impacts of an AT&T/T-Mobile Merger on Capitol Hill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                      Contact: Lucy Tutwiler

July 19, 2011                                                                                                              (202) 449-9866

CCA Emphasizes Negative Impacts of an AT&T/T-Mobile Merger on Capitol Hill

Washington, DC – Today, CCA (Competitive Carriers Association) participated in a panel discussion on the negative effects of the proposed AT&T/T-Mobile merger.  Representatives from Sprint, Public Knowledge, National Hispanic Media Coalition, Consumers Union, and Free Press also participated in the discussion.  CCA continues to urge the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) not to approve the proposed merger, as further industry consolidation will negatively impact job creation, investment, innovation and consumers.

Sitting on the panel, CCA’s Vice President of Legislative Affairs Tim Donovan said, “Despite AT&T’s claims, the proposed merger will do very little to benefit rural America.  As reported in the FCC’s Wireless Competition Report, by acquiring T-Mobile, AT&T would gain only 0.1% of spectrum for deploying mobile broadband services in rural areas.  AT&T currently has the spectrum available to build out in rural America, yet it is choosing to eliminate a national competitor rather than build out in areas that need it the most.”

In a statement, CCA President & CEO Steven K. Berry said, “If AT&T really wants to help rural and hard-to-reach areas, the company could embrace interoperability and enter into to 4G data roaming agreements with competitive carriers.  If the AT&T takeover of T-Mobile is approved, I am confident that rural consumers will be subjected to higher prices and fewer choices.  I hope the FCC and DOJ will seriously consider the detrimental effects to consumers as they continue to review the proposed acquisition.”

About CCA

CCA is the nation’s leading association for competitive wireless providers serving rural and regional areas of the United States. The licensed service area of CCA’s nearly 100 members covers 95 percent of the nation.

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