CCIA Calls On FCC To Release Preliminary Findings on AT&T
11/28/2011
Just before the holiday the FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski circulated an
order to fellow commissioners that would refer the AT&T merger to an
administrative law judge for review. The decision was based on staff
recommendations after examining the consumer harm from AT&T’s proposed takeover
of its competitor T-Mobile.
Today the
Computer & Communications Industry Association called on the FCC to release
its preliminary findings on the dangers of further consolidation in the
critical wireless Internet marketplace.
The
following statement can be attributed to CCIA President & CEO Ed Black:
“While the
Justice Department views this deal to be in violation of antitrust laws, it is
up to the FCC to examine the impact on Internet access, pricing and jobs. These
preliminary findings by FCC experts are useful information for Internet users,
members of Congress and all businesses that depend on wireless Internet access.
Too many Internet users and businesses would be impacted by this mega-merger to
let critical information be buried by the growing mountain of legal maneuvering
by AT&T.
“The FCC
was founded under the principle that the public needs access to critical
communications infrastructure. This means the FCC should be looking out for
threats to wireless Internet access, and designation of this case for a hearing
before an administrative law judge, shows that the FCC is taking this
responsibility seriously. But in addition to actions to protect wireless
Internet access, the FCC should also be informing the public of the depth of
the threat from this mega-merger by turning over its research and preliminary
findings.”
The
following statement can be attributed to CCIA Vice President Cathy Sloan:
“The FCC
has spent many months examining the likely impact of AT&T’s proposed
takeover of its competitor T-Mobile. As the agency charged with
protecting the public interest in affordable telecommunications, the FCC has
unique expertise on how this combination would harm consumers and small
businesses. That information is now available and should be released
immediately. This analysis is vitally important to the future of Internet
access and the public has a right to see it.
“Since last
spring an FCC task force has spent countless hours examining everything from
cell phone pricing and service quality to the effective and competitive use of
spectrum and the effects of consolidation on employment in the industry.
The results are a valuable, unique work product financed by taxpayers
that should not be summarily swept under the rug, particularly while the court
case and transaction are still pending.”
