Petition

Dear President Obama,

In this year’s State of the Union address you promised to bring high-speed wireless broadband to 98 percent of Americans within five years. You and your administration have taken steps to expand broadband access, especially to rural and other areas that do not currently have it. High-speed wireline and wireless broadband hold important promises for the U.S. and North Carolina economy, its workers and our health care and education systems. Today, more than 200 million Americans have broadband access at home; we’re certain with your support that number will grow steadily.

We support this goal of broadband for all Americans, and believe your administration can help fulfill this promise by approving the pending AT&T and T-Mobile merger. Under the merger agreement, AT&T has promised to invest an additional $8 billion in expanding its 4G LTE network. These funds will enable the company to bring high-speed wireless broadband access to more than 97 percent of Americans.

This merger will have very specific benefits for our economy and citizens. For example, it will:

  • Lead to better service quality for consumers and businesses by adding additional spectrum and using existing spectrum more efficiently, as well as broader network infrastructure.
  • Improve economic competitiveness in rural areas by bringing to companies there the important business platforms that run on wireless technology.
  • Create 55,000 to 96,000 new jobs nationwide.
  • Facilitate the use of online distance education and workforce training programs. Increased access to broadband will also bring important telemedicine programs, which have the potential to reduce overall health care costs in the U.S., to more areas of the country.

In short, this merger will improve access to broadband and all of the benefits it brings, as well as stimulate private investment and job growth, and lead to increased infrastructure.

We support policies that will help all Americans gain access to broadband. One of the smartest and most immediate ways to encourage this expansion is by facilitating the successful joining of AT&T and T-Mobile.

Sincerely,