By Bill Buratto on Aug. 26., 2011

AT&T’s recently announced plan to acquire T-Mobile is great news for the Central Coast. As we move forward into the 21st century, it is important to promote all efforts to build out the most advanced communications networks possible.

The Ventura County Economic Development Association, VCEDA, like other organizations, advocates important issues that stimulate business and build our economy to bring a vibrant quality of life to area residents. We have actively sought to enhance our area’s communication infrastructure, and we’re excited about the new possibilities that this proposed acquisition will mean for our businesses and for our everyday lives.

Businesses today are becoming more and more dependent on effective and reliable broadband speeds and seamless coverage throughout the community. Now, it is more common for business to be done by using virtual and electronic communications services. The use of state-of-the-art information technology to conduct business is no longer a competitive advantage, it is a necessity.

The good news is that we no longer have to be tied to our offices. However, we need to make sure that small and large businesses are able to be flexible and mobile when it comes to conducting business wirelessly. Two major technology providers like these coming together would mean that the communications that are at the very core of success for all of our businesses will be more reliable, faster and effective.

Simply put, this proposed acquisition will provide technological advancements businesses need to compete on a global level.

This acquisition will help us maintain our state’s competitiveness by giving us expanded and reliable access to high-speed wireless services. Not only will these enhancements to the network infrastructure support innovation, it will help our state continue to cultivate start-up companies that need the most competitive edge to succeed.

This acquisition will help improve service for customers as AT&T will increase its network infrastructure which would have normally taken approximately five years — and increase network density by about 30 percent in some regions.

This acquisition will help people, companies and institutions in rural communities in California. It’s important that customers in smaller markets have access to technology offered in major metro areas. This acquisition will do that in a significant way, by making LTE technology available to more Californians no matter where they live.

Expanding network capacity and accelerating faster speeds to more people in more locations will not only benefit our businesses but it will also benefit residents. In the wake of all the major disasters that have happened over the past couple of years, VCEDA has promoted disaster preparedness to businesses and communities. The strength of the two networks will provide customers with more robust disaster recovery capabilities than we would receive in the absence of this acquisition.

The Central Coast is a wonderful place to live, work, raise families and enjoy an excellent quality of life. The proposed acquisition serves pro-business interests so that our region’s vibrant economy will continue to expand, bringing the benefits of prosperity to every corner of the county.

This merger is great news. It means better service and greater access to fast wireless Internet services. And it means a better and a brighter future for all of our businesses.
This acquisition will make a real positive difference for the businesses in this region.

• Bill Buratto is the president and CEO of the Ventura County Economic Development Association.