May 20, 2019
Great news for consumers and for our nation overall came this morning from the announcement by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai that he will vote in favor of the proposed merger between wireless carriers Sprint and T-Mobile and recommend to his colleagues on the Commission to support it. Currently the proposal is waiting on final approval from the FCC and Department of Justice.
CASE has been an emphatic voice in support of this merger since nearly the time it was proposed, issuing statements of support, responding to merger opponents, and urging lawmakers to not allow short-sighted political agendas stand in the way. Today, we remain as firm as ever that this merger is good for consumers and good for America.
As Chairman Pai acknowledges, the merger and its $40 billion investment in new technology and 5G infrastructure will speed our nation to 5G, helping us win the critical tech battle with nations such as China and South Korea who are investing billions in a quest to take the lead in next-generation wireless technology. This is absolutely crucial to every American, as estimates project that 5G will add $500 billion to GPD and create over 3 million jobs within the next several years.
New technology and updated, expanded infrastructure in revolutionary technology is the key to ensuring America stays on track as the leader in global technology. This is precisely what the Sprint T-Mobile merger delivers in abundance, speeding 5G to consumers faster than otherwise would occur in the merger’s absence.
The deal also delivers numerous benefits right to consumer, such as the creation of a true 3rd national carrier to compete with the duopoly of AT&T and Verizon, which have nearly 300 million subscribers combined. The merger creates more competition, not less, in the products and services Americans want and which our economy will demand in the coming years.
Our nation’s 62 million rural consumers especially will reap rewards, with current technology lagging in delivering them reliable and high-speed services, creating a great “digital divide” between Americans in less populous areas and the rest of the nation. The Sprint T-Mobile merger promises over 95% of rural Americans, or 59.5 million people in total, will have access to high-speed networks for education, commerce, healthcare, travel, public safety, and all of the countless other ways that high-speed wireless has advanced our lives.
CASE is excited to know that the FCC is being led by a thoughtful and visionary public servant in Chairman Pai, who brings his extensive expertise in all things technology to the job every day for the American people. The future is coming fast, and America needs every advantage to win the global race to 5G and make every effort to stay atop as the world leader in technology. The Sprint T-Mobile merger presents a tremendous opportunity to take an early step in the right direction, and we thank Chairman Pai for setting politics and private agendas aside to make the right choice for our nation’s future.
