AT&T hiring U-verse techs; The release:

AT&T Hiring U-verse Technicians in Connecticut to Help Support Fastest Growing TV Service in U.S.

Governor Malloy Joins AT&T in Announcing Additional Hires, Network Investments; U-verse Now Available to More Than Half of Living Units in Connecticut

NEW HAVEN, Conn., Aug. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- AT&T* today announced its plans to hire over 80 technicians across the state to support its AT&T U-verse® business, the fastest growing advanced television service in the country. Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy joined AT&T at an event today where AT&T outlined its hiring plans and underscored its commitment to expanding its mobile broadband network in Connecticut.

AT&T also announced that AT&T U-verse® services (including AT&T U-verse TV, AT&T U-verse High Speed Internet and and/or AT&T U-verse Voice) are now available to more than half of the living units in Connecticut.

"I commend AT&T for continuing to grow jobs here in Connecticut," said Governor Malloy. "These are 21st century technical jobs that provide competitive wages and benefits that are among the best in the telecommunications industry."

The announcement was made at AT&T's Connecticut corporate offices in New Haven. Governor Malloy was joined at today's event by AT&T New England Vice President And General Manager Steve Krom and AT&T Connecticut President Rodney Smith.

"We are expanding the availability of our award-recognized AT&T U-verse services and signing up new customers every day, and we have to hire more U-verse technicians to keep up with the growing demand," said Steve Krom, vice president and general manager for AT&T New England. "We're proud to serve so many local communities in Connecticut with our advanced U-verse services and proud of the quality jobs our U-verse investment has created."

From 2008 through 2010, AT&T has invested more than $750 million in its Connecticut wireline and wireless networks.

In addition to adding new jobs and expanding AT&T U-verse to more living units across the state, AT&T also plans to add new and upgrade existing cell sites across Connecticut as part of its 2011 initiative to deliver the nation's most-advanced mobile broadband experience. Already this year, AT&T has expanded its mobile broadband network capacity in Litchfield County and eastern Connecticut, and activated new mobile broadband coverage in Waterford that will enhance the wireless experience for back-to-school shoppers and retailers at the Crystal Mall. The new mobile broadband coverage was added to the Distributed Antenna System (DAS), or in-building wireless system, at the Crystal Mall to help serve wireless customers throughout the facility, which is owned by Simon Property Group.

AT&T has enhanced wireless network capacity in more than 135 Connecticut communities this year.

"A more advanced mobile broadband experience helps to drive economic growth, stimulate jobs and equips Connecticut businesses to meet the rapidly increasing demand for mobile broadband service," said Rodney Smith, AT&T's Connecticut state president. "We've significantly ramped up our wireless investments to enable an experience that offers Connecticut consumers better speed, better reliability and better availability."

"Our recently announced agreement to acquire T-Mobile USA also represents a major commitment to strengthen and expand our network in Connecticut," added Steve Krom. "If approved, this deal means that we'll be able to expand the next generation of mobile broadband - 4G LTE - from our current plan of 80 percent of the U.S. population to more than 97 percent."

AT&T is one of the largest employers in America and the nation's largest private employer of full-time union employees. With highly competitive wages and benefits, AT&T jobs are among the best in the U.S. AT&T premises technicians are responsible for service installation and customer care, working both inside customer homes and outside on AT&T's advanced network. About 120 new AT&T U-verse® technicians hired earlier this year in Connecticut are currently completing their job training.