AT&T’s Acquisition of T-Mobile is Good for Consumers and Workers

CHARLESTON, W. Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Following is a statement by Ron Collins, Vice President, CWA District 2:

"The Communications Workers of America believes that AT&T's acquisition of T-Mobile USA will be good for West Virginia consumers and the working men and women of our state.

This acquisition will make it possible for a build out of wireless broadband that will finally reach the 100 million Americans, many in rural communities, who do not have broadband at home. There are as many as 24 million Americans without any access to broadband.

AT&T has pledged, as part of this merger, to build out wireless broadband within six years that will cover about 95 percent of our country. This is exactly what we need for economic development, for jobs and to ensure that all Americans have affordable access to the resources of the Internet Age.

That’s what makes it possible to use online applications, educational tools and services, wherever one lives. It makes running a small business in a small rural town possible. It gives inner-city kids access to resources that wealthier families can take for granted. For residents in West Virginia, this expanded network will be a night and day change, with high speed broadband finally available to support education and economic development.

And it won't be possible without a merger that puts together the same spectrum, as the AT&T and T-Mobile deal does. The other bidder for T-Mobile, Sprint, still is working to integrate its Nextel merger. Adding T-Mobile would have introduced yet another spectrum and operating system.

High speed broadband is the economic engine of the 21st century and is a key stimulus for economic development. This merger will help get us there.

AT&T is the only national wireless company with a unionized workforce. It follows a policy of management neutrality and respects workers to make their own choice about union representation. That is another real benefit to the AT&T acquisition."

CONTACT:

CWA Communications
Candice Johnson, 202-434-1168
cjohnson@cwa-union.org

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  West Virginia

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:   Technology  Telecommunications  Public Policy/Government  Labor  Mobile/Wireless  Public Policy

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