Does Sprint Really Care
About West Virginia?

Posted by: AT&T Blog Team on May 4, 2011 at 10:21 am

The following statement is in response to Sprint’s filing with the West Virginia Public Service Commission and may be attributed to J. Michael Schweder, AT&T’s President of the Mid-Atlantic Region:

“AT&T is trying to bring the latest and fastest mobile Internet service to most of the citizens of West Virginia.  Since Sprint is trying to stop that, we hope state officials will ask Sprint what its own plans are for bringing LTE speeds to the people of West Virginia.  We suspect Sprint either has no such plan, or that its own plans pale in comparison to AT&T’s.  In either case, we’re confident West Virginians will see Sprint’s filing for what it is – a cynical effort to hurt a competitor, even if the ones truly hurt are the many people of West Virginia who would be denied the fast mobile Internet speeds they need and want.”

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TOPICS: Broadband Policy, Competition, Spectrum, T-Mobile Merger, Wireless
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9 Comments

Comments (9)

I would love to see Sprint expand its WiMAX coverage in West Virginia, but it is worth pointing out that Sprint at least has 3G coverage across much of its footprint in the Mountain State. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for my AT&T service, which is still stuck at 2G in most areas of the state.

In fact, AT&T promised that they would expand their 3G network to include Snowshoe in 2009. (A number of newspapers and television stations across the state covered the announcement, which is still posted on the AT&T website, as well.) Your representatives also promised that the 3G MicroCell would be supported in Pocahontas County by July 2010. Unfortunately, we’re all still waiting. I’ve tried to reach out to customer service, your network engineering staff, your executive escalations team, and your Facebook and Twitter folks. None have been willing or able to give any update or provide any explanation for the delay (which is now going on two years in the case of the promised 3G upgrade).

I think West Virginians would love to see AT&T keep their past promises for 3G coverage in West Virginia before you start making new 4G ones. What gives?

J. Deal May 5, 2011 at 4:34 am

Since you moderate comments I have little hope of this being seen by anyone but…. First of all, I agree with Sprint. Second of all your filing, with the FCC was a joke, throwing in those “facts” about miniroties. I truly hope your takeover of T-Mobile fails and you are forced to have both that filing and the one involving Qualcomm merged into one. Your customer service is horrible and your prices are absolute garbage. Leave T-Mobile alone!

Bridget Williams May 5, 2011 at 11:44 am

This is just your hype machine trying to spin someone legitimately attempting to block your company’s attempt to turn into a monopoly. You don’t care about anyone because your prices are ridiculous and your network even more so. Go Sprint!

A Cameron May 5, 2011 at 12:44 pm

I agree with the last comment as well. I am a long time T-Mobile customer and if this deal is approved, I will advise any one who asks me about ATT that you tell 4g half-truths and lie.

Steve Jones May 5, 2011 at 12:52 pm

Please at&t you took over cellular one about 5 years ago here in WV and I knew I would be able to place more phone calls in more places, that’s about it.

If i wanna check my email, update my twitter or facebook, or download something I’m doing it all on EDGE. I live in elkins wv and our population is pushing 10,000 and all of us that are on at&t are on EDGE. However for 40 bucks cheeper I could have the the Desire Z and be on a 3G network where I live and work.

So instead of trying to buy t-mo you could have used that money to improve your network and update and get the people of WV out of 1999

Dustin Webley May 5, 2011 at 1:06 pm

To be honest, my mobile internet here is already terrible. Until there are solid plans in place as to how the acuisition of T-Mobile is going to improve not only mobile broadband speeds, but also the insane amount of dropped calls and dead spots, I see no reason for AT&T to have a monopoly on the United States GSM market.

Reed Whaley May 5, 2011 at 1:08 pm

AT&T does not care about WV or any other state. If AT&T cared about their customers they would’ve fixed problems with their network already. Dont use an excuse that another company is trying to block a monopoly as a cover for you caring about end users. Merger would create the only GSM provider in USA, customers would lose out when there is no other choice for GSM providers. If merger goes thru AT&T will raise the prices of Tmobile plans to match their own. How would customers benefit from that? As far as providing rural area with service it will be the same thing as with Comcast / NBC merger. Comcast promised to hook up rural folks with Internet but never did anything. This is the same thing that AT&T will do.

Ivan Susanin May 5, 2011 at 1:14 pm

I’m originally a AT&T orange customer and have noticed a large improvement from a reception stand point within the areas I work live and play.Night and day difference from Cingular be absorbed into AT&T. I have faith that AT&T will not disappoint the majority of their customers WHEN the FCC approves the merger.

Noel Santos May 5, 2011 at 2:23 pm

AT&T, you’re admitting that your network is awful in WV and are relying on T-Mobile to bring decent 4G service.

Why not just improve the current AT&T service that’s already there?

Joe Donahue May 5, 2011 at 5:27 pm

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