Franken says merger would result in greatly reduced competition, the potential loss of thousands of jobs, higher consumer prices, and less innovation in technology

Washington, D.C. – The Rural Telecommunications Group (RTG) today applauded Minnesota Senator Al Franken for issuing a letter to the Federal Communications Commission and Department of Justice expressing his opposition to the proposed AT&T merger with T-Mobile. In his letter, Sen. Franken maintained the “destruction of that competition would have grave repercussions for the economy as a whole and cannot be ameliorated by the application of conditions.” Senator Franken joins Senator Herb Kohl, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights, in his disapproval of the merger. Recently, Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson launched an investigation into the merger.

“Rural wireless providers in Minnesota, and across the country, are deeply concerned this takeover will run them out of business, and we are pleased Senator Franken is working to protect innovation, competition and choice in the wireless marketplace,” said Carri Bennet, General Counsel, Rural Telecommunications Group. “AT&T already possesses the ability to expand rural coverage and could do so at a fraction of the cost compared to taking over T-Mobile. Instead, their intent is to eliminate rural competitors by subjecting them to higher costs for using backhaul infrastructure and providing roaming access. Minnesotans should be proud they have a Senator willing to safeguard the interests of consumers and small businesses.”

About RTG – Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Rural Telecommunications Group, Inc. (RTG) is a trade association representing rural wireless carriers who each serve less than 100,000 subscribers. RTG’s members have joined together to speed delivery of new, efficient and innovative telecommunications technologies to remote and underserved communities. ruraltelecomgroup.org @RTGwireless

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