AT&T JOINS LIST OF BIG CARRIERS TAKING A PASS ON STIMULUS

摘要

AT&T said it won't apply now for money from the NTIA's Broadband Technology Opportunities Program. No large national carriers are expected to take part, industry sources said. "We closely examined the current rules and, as others have expressed, have concerns about the complexity and uncertainty they create for grant applicants," AT&T said. "At this time, we are not able to participate in any of the broadband infrastructure stimulus projects that will become available through this funding program." AT&T is spending $17-$18 billion on capital improvements in 2009, four times as much as the total of all rounds of the NTIA program. About two-thirds of the carrier's investment is to expand its advanced wireless and wired broadband networks, a spokesman said. nnAT&T became the second major carrier, after Qwest, to announce it won't seek money from the program. Verizon hasn't announced whether it's applying but has said it probably won't, a spokesman said. "Nobody really thought a company like Verizon that invests so much in broadband already would be the prime target for funds." A T-Mobile source said the company has decided not to apply, at least in the first funding round. Sprint Nextel won't apply in the first round, either, a spokesman said. "It's important to note that the broadband stimulus programs are just one part of the Recovery Act," he said. "There are also programs which focus on smart grid and health care. We are looking closely at all of these programs and determining which ones align with Sprint's business strategy."