What Others Are Saying:

AT&Ts merger with T-Mobile makes additional investment in wireless broadband for rural areas a certainty. AT&T has committed to a more robust national build-out as part of this deal, which is why, on behalf of our members, we support its approval. Ed Luttrell, President, National Grange Even beyond these farming benefits, better wireless service has the potential to improve non-farm economic life in many hard-hit rural areas that have seen tragic declines in manufacturing and building jobs. Wireless service allows people even in remote locations to set up a small or home-based business. This is another reason why we believe the AT&T merger with T-Mobile will be helpful in our communities. Deb Dressler, President, National Women Involved in Farm Economics (WIFE) Our members literally work in the middle of nowhere. For many of them, slow or spotty cell phone coverage is the norm, not the exception... With increased access to wireless broadband, our members will be more efficient, have more information at their fingertips, and better collaborate with their peers. The combination of AT&T and T-Mobile also promises to increase opportunities for rural communities, where most of our members live and raise their families. Jack Alexander, Past Chairman, Association of Range Consultants This merger is truly a unique opportunity to benefit Native American agriculture and Indian Country as a whole and to make the vision of the National Broadband Plan a reality. This merger will help fulfill our mission to promote the Indian use of Indian resources for the benefit of Indian people. Ross Racine, Executive Director, Intertribal Agricultural Council Unfortunately, in many parts of rural America mobile voice and broadband connections are faulty or non-existent, leaving many rural residents without access to the features mobile broadband connections offer. USCA believes positive steps that expand mobile broadband deployment to more Americanssuch as the proposed merger between AT&T and T-Mobileshould be supported, and will go a long way toward covering those rural areas that are currently unserved or underserved. Jon Wooster, President, U.S. Cattlemens Association There is no dispute that NBFA members have historically faced significant barriers when competing against large corporate farms. Its members cannot afford to be left behind when the fastest and most efficient wireless services and applications cannot be deployed in an efficient and timely manner in small towns and rural communities. NBFA implores the FCC to seriously consider the significant commitments to serve these communities that AT&T and T-Mobile have made as part of its application, and to approve this transaction quickly... John W. Boyd, Jr., President, National Black Farmers Association [The merger] will bring state of the art technology to rural areas, enabling the use of sophisticated eHealth applications that rely on video conferencing and real time interaction. Rural high speed wireless users will have the same experience as their urban counterparts. Alan Morgan, Chief Executive Officer, National Rural Health Association This increased access to high speed wireless technology [resulting from the merger] will make it easier for more members of the AAW to download critical crop, cattle and feed prices, all while enabling active participation in the global marketplace for these important commodities. Without the expanded access it is AAWs fear that a significant number of women involved in agriculture will go without next-generation wireless service for many years. Chris Wilson, President, American Agri-Women

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