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June 24, 2011
The Honorable Julius Genachowski
Federal Communications Commission
445 12
th
Street, SW
Washington, DC 20544
The Honorable Eric H. Holder
U. S. Department ofJustice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530
Dear Chairman Genachowski and Attorney General Holder:
As Democratic Members ofCongress, we are strongly committed to the nationwide deployment ofhigh speed
broadband services. In this year's State oflbe Union address, the President pledged that within five years, government
would make it "possible for businesses to deploy the next generation of high-speed wireless coverage to 98 percent of
all Americans" and connect l4every part ofAmerica to the digital age." Those digital connections will drive investment
and innovation in new technologies and services and move the American economy forward to ensure our nation's
continuing global competitiveness.
We are cognizant that the proposed merger between AT&T and T-Mobile USA is currently being reviewed by the
Commission and the Department, and it is important that those reviews proceed in a thorough and expeditious manner
to fairly examine all relevant issues including consumer prices, competition, and innovation. One significant issue to
assess in your reviews is increased national coverage. As a part of its merger proposal, AT&T has committed to
building a next-generation wireless broadband network that proposes to cover 97 percent ofAmericans. Such a
commitment will require billions ofdollars in private investment capital and create thousands ofjobs, including many
good paying union jobs with solid benefits, which will greatly contribute to our continuing economic recovery.
It is also important to note that the potential for ubiquitous, wireless broadband throughout our nation would be a
significant benefit for the millions ofAmericans that may not otherwise see those benefits, including our constituents
living in rural and underserved communities. Bringing 21 st century wireless infrastructure to these areas is absolutely
critical for our nation's long term economic growth, As the President has stated, wireless broadband is "about a rural
community in Iowa or Alabama where farmers and small business owners will be able to sell their products all over the
world." We agree.
Finally, we note that nationwide wireless broadband infrastructures will provide a robust platform for the development
ofnew technologies, applications, products and services by America's most innovative companies. The United States
created and is the cun'ent world leader in the development ofmobile applications that improve the productivity and
quality oflife ofour citizens. Further investment and expansion ofthe networks that carry those applications is critical
to maintain our leadership.
The benefits ofnationwide, next generation wireless broadband are manifest, and we support the President's pledge to
make that vision a reality. The pending AT&T merger proposal pledges to help realize that vision and for this reason,
we urge you to give important consideration to these and other prospective benefits during your comprehensive reviews.
Gene Green
Member of Congress
c . issioner Michael J. Copps
Commissioner Robert M. McDowell
Commissioner Mignon Clyburn
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