Public Knowledge Lauds AT&T's Network Investment and The Importance of Pro-Competitive Policies

Today, AT&T detailed a plan to expand its wireless and wireline broadband networks. The plan touts an $8 billion investment in wireless initiatives, while another $6 billion will be put to use for wireline initiatives. In total, AT&T will reinvest $22 billion into their network over a span of three years, which could positively impact rural communities and DSL customers. 

The following can be attributed to Senior Vice President Harold Feld:

"AT&T is to be applauded for investing in its network and breathing new life into DSL and rural wireless. This investment will not only create new jobs and bring broadband to the heartland, it has the potential to revive competition with cable broadband at a time when many had concluded we were doomed to a cable monopoly. 

"However, AT&T would not have made this investment if it had solved its problems through consolidation by buying T-Mobile. To get the merger through, AT&T promised to invest $8 billion in the combined network, and leaked documents during the merger review suggested the actual investment would have been closer to $3 billion. By blocking the merger, the Department of Justice and the FCC have increased AT&T's investment in its network.  

"Rigorous antitrust oversight coupled with recent FCC actions to encourage competition resulted in industry investment and spectrum transfers that fueled spectrum efficiency and competition. Despite predictions that limits on consolidation would chill investment, competitive carriers such as Sprint have attracted almost $25B in foreign investment now that the FCC has made it clear there will be spectrum for companies other than AT&T and Verizon. 

"Last night's election validated the Obama Administration's commitment to reviving antitrust and pro-competitive regulation politically. Today's actions by AT&T validates those policies on Wall St. As we move into a new Administration, we hope that those who genuinely want to grow the economy will finally take this lesson to heart. Protecting competition is not only good for consumers, it's good business."

A link to the AT&T release is here