NEWS Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D. C. 20554 This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974). News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: November 7, 2012 Justin Cole, 202-210-2437 Email: justin.cole@fcc.gov STATEMENT FROM FCC CHAIRMAN JULIUS GENACHOWSKI ON AT&T INVESTMENT ANNOUNCEMENT “AT&T’s announcement of billions of dollars in new investment in wired and wireless broadband networks is proof positive that the climate for investment and innovation in the U.S. communications sector is healthy. Today’s announcement adds to nearly $200 billion of investment in wireless and wireline broadband networks since 2009, and powerful growth in the Internet economy. “As our National Broadband Plan said, extending wired and wireless broadband across America is the ‘great infrastructure challenge of the 21st century’. America’s 21st century economy and our global leadership depend on meeting this challenge. Through our groundbreaking steps to free up spectrum, our once-in-a-generation overhaul of Universal Service, our phase-down of the byzantine and outdated intercarrier compensation system, our Broadband Acceleration Initiative and numerous other actions, we’ve taken major strides to promote private investment in broadband networks. “AT&T has also filed a petition with the FCC today suggesting issues to consider in our ongoing work to modernize our rules for the evolving communications market. As we review AT&T's filing, we will focus on the principles that have guided our actions since I became Chairman: driving the virtuous cycle of private investment and innovation in the broadband ecosystem, promoting competition, and protecting consumers.” -FCC- News about the Federal Communications Commission can also be found on the Commission’s web site www.fcc.gov.