Free Press: AT&T investments are proof Network Neutrality doesn't hinder broadband

Free Press disputes the often-claimed criticism that new Network Neutrality rules will hurt broadband investment by pointing to investments made by AT&T when the telecom giant was subject to similar regulations. AT&T, as part of conditions it agreed to in its late-2006 merger with BellSouth, agreed to Net neutrality rules for two years, and the telecom's investments increased significantly during that time period, the Free Press study finds. AT&T's gross capital investment increased by nearly $1.9 billion from 2006 to 2008, the largest increase among U.S. telecoms. The percentage of capital investments to revenue at large telecom carriers has actually fallen since the FCC relaxed network-sharing regulations in 2005.