What Others Are Saying:

The merger of AT&T with T-Mobile USA stands to bring some much-needed relief to the African American community by helping to close the digital divide and increasing access to vital services in urban and rural communities A combined AT&T and T-Mobile will bring wireless broadband access to underserved urban and rural communities, create cost-savings for consumers, and increasing jobs across the country.
Joint Letter Submitted By: National Association of Black County Officials NAACP Black College Communication Association 100 Black Men of America Southern Christian Leadership Conference National Newspaper Publishers Association National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives National Coalition on Black Civic Participation National Cares Mentoring Movement National Council of Negro Women National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame National Black Farmers Association National Association of Neighborhoods National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women Black Leadership Forum National Black Caucus of State Legislators National Conference of Black Mayors

By easing capacity constraints, the merger will help avert the spectrum crunch especially in very large majority-minority markets and thus alleviate the pressures that could drive prices up, drive down minority adoption, and widen the digital divide. David Honig, President and Executive Director, Minority Media and Telecommunications Council Our modern economy and demand for technology and high-speed wireless services are vital to stay competitive in the global environment called the business world. Digital connectivity is a valuable asset, which must be made available to everyone so no one is left behind. The merger of AT&T and T-Mobile will improve the coverage, reliability and speed of our mobile broadband networks, leading to more opportunities for American's citizens. Georgia Representative Calvin Smyre, Immediate Past President, National Black Caucus of State Legislators By reaching so many Americans who are currently not reached by fast broadband connections, the merger will have a particularly beneficial impact in minority communities. Ubiquitous fast connections will help expand the market for our products and services. Wireless technologies have helped African Americans to close the digital divide by providing a cost-effective alternative to wired broadband offerings, facilitating the quick adoption of smartphones and mobile devices among our nations African American population.
Joint Letter Submitted By:

Grain Communications Group Nsoro Laurelwood Partners The Aquiline Group Maximum Leverage Solutions Young Technology Group

MTM Technologies, Axis Technologies CLS Group New TechConstruction Corp. McNeal Professional Services AC&S Engineering and Surveying

The two most pressing online issues for millions of disadvantaged Americans are increasing the availability of high-speed Internet access and making it more affordable. We believe the proposed merger can play a large role in achieving both goals. Joint letter submitted by National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and the National Council of Negro Women

I know that the full promise of civil rights cannot be achieved until there is economic equality, and that cannot be achieved if millions of our citizens are left behind in the adoption of the technologies on which the 21st century economy will be built. I share President Obama's vision of connecting all parts of America to the digital age, and I am proud to join my voice with those supporting the AT&T/T-Mobile USA merger as the best and fastest way to bring these technologies within reach of millions of Americans who would otherwise wait while the more fortunate members of society move ahead. Kweisi Mfume, Executive Director, National Medical Association With AT&T's continued partnership with labor organizations and its commitment to providing the nation with health, education, and sustainability solutions, this merger will bring great growth and innovation. It will spur $8 billion in additional investment, lead to faster and more accessible wireless Internet service and protect the interests of tens of thousands of working men and women across the country. William Lucy, President, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists NCBA believes the merging of AT&T and T-Mobile's networks will result in more elderly African Americans connecting to wireless broadband and availing themselves of all it has to offer. Moreover, the new network will be faster, more reliable, and more user friendly, encouraging more elderly African Americans to become a part of the wireless revolution no matter their location. Karyne Jones, President and CEO, National Caucus & Center on Black Aged HBCUs [Historically Black Colleges and Universities] are not only graduating the lions share of African Americans in STEM, but have excellent business and entrepreneurship programs, communications and marketing programs, finance and other exemplary programs that make them invaluable talent pools for the proposed AT&T and T-Mobile merger. I know that access and diversity were critical considerations for AT&T in reaching the decision to advance the merger. Lezli Baskerville, President and CEO, National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education In sharp contrast to the situation today, when the merger is complete, real high-speed Internet access will become the rule, not the exception, in our online interactions. I believe that a lot of opponents to the merger are failing to see we can seize this future quickly if the merger is approved. Navarrow Wright

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