Blacks Support AT&T Acquisition Of T-Mobile

WASHINGTON – The National Black Chamber of Commerce has long recognized that broadband is the great equalizer of the modern era. This is particularly true for small businesses, communities of color, low-income and underserved populations, who realize that the power of broadband is fully experienced via access and use of mobile devices.

It is for this reason that NBCC supports today's announcement of the proposed acquisition of T-Mobile by AT&T. We know and respect the profound power and importance of mobile broadband, and we believe that this arrangement will help provide broadband access to those who have to this point gone without it.

Faster, more robust, efficient and affordable networks are what Americans crave, and that is what this acquisition holds in store for us. The benefits of the deployment of AT&T's 4G LTE networks to 95% of the nation are underscored by the fact that these networks will be supported by the dual infrastructure of AT&T and T-Mobile. Likewise, these networks will allow a more efficient use of spectrum at a time when spectrum scarcity stands as a hindrance to greater adoption and use of mobile broadband networks.

Decidedly, this seems like a step in the right direction. It provides the nation with an opportunity to promote digital equality for all Americans, especially those most in need.

About NBCC
The NBCC reaches 100,000 Black owned businesses. There are 1.9 million Black owned businesses in the United States. Black businesses account for over $138 billion in annual sales. African Americans have over $1 trillion in expendable income each year according to the US Bureau of Census. The National Black Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to economically empowering and sustaining African American communities through entrepreneurship and capitalistic activity within the United States and via interaction with the Black Diaspora.