Statement on Senator Herb Kohl’s Opposition to Proposed AT&T – T-Mobile USA Merger
Wisconsin Senator Herb Kohl on Tuesday submitted a letter to US Attorney General Eric Holder and FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski expressing his opposition to the proposed AT&T – T-Mobile USA merger now under review by the Department of Justice and Federal Communications Commission. Thad Nation, executive director of Wired Wisconsin, issued this statement in response to the news:
“I am disappointed by Senator Herb Kohl’s decision to withhold his support for a merger that can provide real benefits to Wisconsin residents. As proposed, this merger would enhance and improve access to wireless broadband for Wisconsin residents through private sector investment in critical infrastructure, especially in rural areas.
“Individuals in many parts of Wisconsin often lack access to high-speed Internet, quality cell service and other amenities. This merger would help to change that by providing improved services and access to people throughout Wisconsin. Because of this identified, statewide need, I do not agree with Senator Kohl on this matter and I believe this is the wrong decision for Wisconsin consumers.”
I am so pleased that with his July 20 statement opposing Sen. Kohl's action of acting in the Public Interest against the disastrous AT&T - TMobile merger, Mr. Nation has stepped out of the shadows of the sham he has been playing through Wired Wisconsin. (Mr. Nation, is the leader of Wired Wisconsin and as such is the "I" in the statement published above.)
Now Wired Wisconsin is officially discredited as anything other than a deceptive AT&T lobbying front disguised as a citizen's advocacy group. Wired Wisconsin was installed by AT&T to effect state policy that corrupts the free market and limits any/all public voice in opposition to its efforts. The very unfortunate thing is that the state's Republicans have partnered with AT&T's Wired Wisconsin to deceive and cheat the public over cable access, changing the rules of the internet which make it different from the previously free and open access vehicle it has long been, and now this latest attempt to steal from the public through less competition in the wireless marketplace.
With this statement, I'm glad your out in the open Mr. Nation. You don't appeal to me.
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LikeHmmmm....AT&T is a Wired Wisconsin "partner". I find it interesting that Access Wisconsin, that was initially incorporated as "Midwest Consumers for Choice and Competition", is now apparently opposed to competition. Why don't you just reorganize as "AT&T's puppet"?
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LikeBull! I oppose Wired Wisconsin opposition to Senator Kohl's statements, and inquisition that the merger would benefit Wisconsin's rural residence. The fact remains that there is only one side to the merger of AT&T Mobility and T-mobile (Deuch Telecom), a bad one. AT&T has proven (as can be seen by the new telecom bill pending "Spectrum Innovation Act of 2011") that AT&T squats on spectrum that it doesn't need to stifle competition. If AT&T actually had a plan to manage their network and upgrade equipment effectively they would not be able to state that there is a spectrum shortage. Quite simply, there isn't... It is a made up shortage that is for one purpose, and that it to keep competitors out!.
AT&T has not even used their AWS spectrum yet and has no plan on it. That is the definition of Spectrum SQUATTING! Now they are trying to reverse any miniscule net neutrality rules and try to License "Unlicensed" spectrum through the "Spectrum Innovation Act of 2011.
I really wonder if Wired Wisconsin has the best interest of Wisconsin's rural residence in mind or if it is just a shoot off of CTIA.
Ryan
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