NetCompetition Statement on AT&T-DirecTV Merger

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 18, 2014

Contact:  Scott Cleland 703-217-2407

The AT&T-DirecTV Merger Increases Competition & Consumer Choice, Providing:

A New Stronger Competitive Alternative to Cable’s Bundle; and

New Competitive Choices & Benefits for AT&T, DirecTV & New Customers.

Its Unique Competitive Approach Proves Wireline-Wireless Substitution/Competition

WASHINGTON D.C. – The following quotes on the announcement of the AT&T-DirecTV merger may be attributed to Scott Cleland, Chairman of NetCompetition: 

• “The AT&T-DirecTV merger increases competition by providing: AT&T customers with more and better video content choices and any-screen convenience; DirecTV customers with better broadband, wireless and national bundle choices; and new customers with a unique variety of national, standalone and bundled communications choices.”
• “This pro-competitive merger is occurring in one of the most competitive communications marketplaces in the world; it should be approved.”
• “Competition works; this proposed merger is just the latest example of how communications competition and technology advances are forcing competitors to creatively transform their businesses to innovatively meet consumer demand in new and productive ways.”  
• “This merger also spotlights a huge transformation in communications competition, i.e. consumer substitution of wireline services with wireless services. Just like two fifths of Americans have substituted wireless phones for landline phones and a third of Americans have substituted wireless DBS for landline cable service, wireless LTE broadband services like AT&T’s will increasingly competitively substitute landline broadband.”

NETCompetition.org is a pro-competition e-forum representing broadband interests.  See www.netcompetition.org.