AT&T KICKS OFF No-Texting-While-Driving Pledge and 4 Telecom Titans Attracting Interest

AT&T, Inc. (NYSE:T):  AT&T, Inc. is stepping up their effort to stop the dangerous behavior of texting while driving, in an intense 30 day push to get drivers nationwide to take the “No Texting While Driving” pledge that began on August 15. This is an extension of  AT&T’s “It Can Wait campaign,” launched in 2009, which will culminate on September 19 when AT&T asks all drivers to make a lifelong commitment to never text and drive again. Their shares traded up $0.11 (0.30%), they were  recently at $37.21.

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Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE:S):  Shares of Sprint Nextel Corp. have more than doubled since late April, ascending to annual high territory to top their 10 day and 20 day moving averages. Against this backdrop, it appears that one long-term option trader upped the bullish ante on the communications giant. During the course of Wednesday’s session, Sprint saw roughly 238,000 calls cross the tape; this is more than four times their average daily call volume and close to five times the number of Sprint puts exchanged. Most active were the 3- and 4-strike calls which saw symmetrical blocks of 39,000 contracts change hands. Their shares traded down, they were $0.22 (4.14%) recently at $5.17.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ):  The U.S. Department of Justice filed a Consent Decree and Competitive Impact Statement regarding the Verizon Wireless (VZ, VOD) -SpectrumCo, LLC, which is a joint venture between Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA), Time Warner Cable (NYSE:TWC), and Bright House Networks. Commercial agreements with the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Comcast said, “We appreciate the timely completion of the government’s anti-trust review of the proposed sale of spectrum and associated commercial agreements between Verizon Wireless, Comcast, and the other cable companies. We are also pleased that the Federal Communications Commission is circulating an order proposing approval of the spectrum sale, and we are hopeful that a final order will be issued shortly.” Their shares traded down $0.13 (0.29%), they were recently at $44.06.

Vodafone Group plc (NASDAQ:VOD):  Vodafone India said that they have partnered with BIG Cinemas to offer a free movie ticket and a greeting card until August 26 to customers visiting the multiplex on their birthday. Their shares traded down $0.32 (1.05%), they were recently at $29.31.

Leap Wireless International Inc. (NASDAQ:LEAP):  Verizon wants to use the nationwide AWS spectrum for added capacity to augment their 700 MHz LTE spectrum position. If the AWS spectrum deal is approved, Verizon has agreed to sell their 700 MHz Lower A and B Block spectrum.Verizon spokesman, Ed McFadden, said the company still intends to sell the 700 MHz spectrum. Verizon added that at least 36 companies expressed interest in the 700 MHz spectrum. In a filing with the FCC, the company told the commission that they will utilize the airwaves they are getting from T-Mobile USA and Cricket cable companies. The provider, Leap Wireless International Inc., will  serve 30% of the population who are covered by the spectrum within three years and 70 percent within seven years. Verizon also promised to offer data roaming at reasonable rates to other carriers. Their shares traded down $0.02 (0.34%), they were recently at $5.91.

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