NEWS RELEASE

Committee on Energy and Commerce
Rep. John D. Dingell, Chairman

Dingell on AT&T Open Access Announcement

Washington, D.C. – Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, made the following statement today in response to an announcement by AT&T that it will allow customers the option to use compatible handsets not offered by the company on its nationwide wireless network:

“I am pleased to hear AT&T’s announcement, which continues a consumer-friendly trend of more open wireless networks. The devil is in the details, and I urge the company to implement its policy in a way that maximizes consumer choice. It is appropriate that barriers to consumer movement between and on wireless networks continue to fall, and I will be watching with interest as these developments unfold.”

Verizon Wireless recently made a similar announcement.

On July 11, 2007, the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet held a hearing on wireless innovation and consumer protection, addressing the issue of open access. Please visit http://energycommerce.house.gov to view testimony or the webcast from the hearing.

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