AT&T Faking Concern for Rural Deployment

AT&T FAKING CONCERN FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT
[SOURCE: Broadband Reports, AUTHOR: Karl Bode]
[Commentary] AT&T is getting a lot of press for its announcement this week that it is making an effort to reach broadband have-nots with wireless, satellite, and "Project Lightspeed." Buried amidst the bubbly news and analyst coverage, only CNET's Russell Shaw seemed to remember that AT&T is in the middle of a political fight to eliminate local franchises and deployment requirements from state and federal laws. This has already resulted in ample complaints that the company is redlining -- or ignoring less affluent or rural areas as it upgrades its network to VDSL2 & fiber. The company's announcement prepares a counter to these arguments by allowing AT&T to say that it is making an effort to reach these customers. However, looking closely at the announcement, not much really changed from a hard-deployment perspective: 1) The Wild-Blue deal re-brands satellite broadband that was already available to rural Americans. 2) The "Project Lightspeed" plan to "pass" 5.5 million low-income households was already calculated. In part, we'll cynically assume, to skirt redlining allegations. No new deployment was actually announced, and the project remains in trials. 3) The plans for two new fixed wireless trial locations is far from broad deployment. Do we believe AT&T CEO Ed Whitacre when he suggests these new moves "could help bring broadband to as many as 11.5 million additional homes and businesses?" Or do we assume AT&T is doing a song and dance for representatives of these regions to gain political favor?
http://www.broadbandreports.com/shownews/74298