The following is attributed to Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge:
“We would like to congratulate AT&T on another sterling quarter. Their revenue is up, to $31.5 billion. Their wireless business is adding customers, growing revenue and selling phones at record levels. They are earning 41 percent on the wireless business. Even the wireline business is showing recovery.
“Just about the only part of AT&T that’s not growing is the number of employees. According to company figures, there are 13,586 fewer employees than there were in the same quarter a year ago.
“These numbers show the company has the resources to build out to rural areas if it wants to, and doesn’t need to engage in regulatory blackmail by saying that without spending $39 billion for T-Mobile then rural areas won’t get service. The numbers also show that those who think the takeover of T-Mobile will somehow create jobs should take a closer look at the reality of the situation.”
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