Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Heath Shuler released the following statement today regarding the proposed acquisition of T-Mobile USA by AT&T from Deutsche Telekom.
“Last year the Federal Communication Commission, at Congress’s direction, released a National Broadband Plan aimed at providing access to broadband Internet to virtually every American. The President has echoed that call as well. The proposed merger of AT&T and T-Mobile, coupled with AT&T’s commitment to expanding their network coverage, is a tremendous step toward achieving those goals, and achieves them rightly through the private sector, saving taxpayer money.”
“As the Representative of a largely rural and mountainous district, I am very pleased to learn of this proposed acquisition. With AT&T’s commitment to reach 95 percent of America’s population, more than 294 million people, with its 4G LTE, this merger will result in expanded and improved broadband Internet and mobile phone services for thousands of residents in Western North Carolina and millions of people across the country.”
“As railroads and highways connected previously remote areas of America to the larger world in previous eras and spurred growth, access to high-speed and reliable Internet and mobile phone service is a necessity for 21st Century business development and job creation. Currently, too many homes and small businesses in Western North Carolina, and rural communities across the country, lack the access they need. I believe this deal will help close that digital divide, allowing for the growth of small business and job creation no matter where a community is on a map.”
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