Stock buybacks means no growth whatsoever. There is no connection to growth, positive or negative. But, it does mean that there is less stock sharing in the ownership of T, so everything else the same, the price of the stock should grow.
What has changed is the Federal Reserve. While they were hiking rates, Randy was intent on paying off debt. Now that they have lowered interest rates, and are poised to lower them tomorrow below the rate of inflation, share buybacks become more attractive compared to paying down debt.
It is in accordance with the Federal Reserve's real mandate, which is to maintain an asset bubble in the stock market. After all, it benefits the 1%, which is who they work for. AT&T will hardly be the only indebted corporation buying back stock as opposed to paying down debt.
Really well stated, @11LTqDiW-wjq.