US Files to Block T-Mobile Merger of AT&T

[still_one]

Source: Bloomberg news

US Files To Block T-Mobile Takeover by AT&T

US Files anti-Trust Compalint



Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-31/u-s-files-antitrust-complaint-to-block-proposed-at-t-t-mobile-merger.html

[Sherman A1]

1. Yes!

I hope that this merger is blocked and goes away!

[Harmony Blue]

4. Agreed!

I know many T mobile users who would be fed up if they were back with AT&T.

[Sherman A1]

9. That would include this one...

I left AT&T for a reason and I would prefer not to rejoin them.

[virgdem]

29. Another T-Mobile user here...

I've never been with AT&T, but I've had T-Mobile for 6 years and I'm very happy with them. If this merger takes place, I will find another company rather than stay with AT&T.

[lark]

41. I worked for AT&T for 10 years

That scumbag co. gets nothing else from me. We're checking out other plans now because if T-Mobile joins with AT&T, we are not going to be one of their customers.

[cstanleytech]

13. 100% agree with you,.

[iamthebandfanman]

2. yay!

all these huge communications companys need to be broken up again!

theres no longer competition between phone companys nor cable against cable...
these days its the TV industry against the Telephone industry for streaming media...

its time to break up ATT again! why were they even allowed to buy up all the small bells again? why wasnt this a part of the original break up deal that they would never be able to do it again?

[bigworld]

3. Good.

I love my T-Mobile service and would hate to have to be under AT&T's thumb again.

[HopeHoops]

5. Excellent! All that would mean is higher rates and worse service.

[louis-t]

25. And more laid off workers.

Cost cutting, y'know.

[Blue_Tires]

6. Holy damn we actually blocked a merger?

the lobbyists must not be putting money in the proper palms...

[SnakeEyes]

11. No

they just filed to block.

[still_one]

20. yes, and both JP Morgan and AT&T said they will fight it /nt

[No Elephants]

33. Not yet.

[leftyohiolib]

7. wow i thought this was a done deal-surprise

i know that at&t bashng is popular here but that company is a union shop and pays a good living wage, a rarity in this times. the cwa has alot to do with that but wages are an agreement.

[sce56]

18. Yeah they are now but my company went through a merger last year they cut

450 jobs that is the reason they do it to consolidate and make a higher profit. So how many jobs would be lost if the merger went through?

[leftyohiolib]

31. well i dont work in the wireless division but i imagine there will be layoffs

nor do i own a cell phone. everyone conmplains about being ripped-off then they still go out and buy a cell phone. cell phones have one of the highest profit margins around esp data plans. people complain about corporate greed and companies ripping off their customers but they quickly bend over for a cell phone plan. over paying for the right to brain cancer but to each his own. btw we've had a lot of layoffs also lost alot of friends in installation/repair.

[still_one]

8. Some additional facts from Bloomberg, AT&T is one of the companies that has the largest lobbyists in

Washington

AT&T was also saying earlier that if the deal went through they would bring back 5000 on off shored jobs

My question is why do they need to wait for the "deal" to go through

[SnakeEyes]

12. Because the jobs

would be related to the acquired T-Mobile side of the company.

[cstanleytech]

16. Which as i said in another post read as blackmail and imo was stupid for them to do.

[SnakeEyes]

39. That's not blackmail

if the jobs are on the T-Mobile side they have no control over bringing those jobs back to the States until they actual have control of T-Mobile's business.

[cstanleytech]

14. Ya I read it as blackmail

sort of like "approve the merger or else!!!".

[elleng]

10. 'Bout time the anti-trust division did SOMETHING!

[SoapBox]

15. Good.

...this mega-giant-monopoly corporation thing is out of control.

[dmosh42]

17. I'm assuming it's DOJ? Did anyone tell Holder? He only does potsmokers!

[still_one]

19. Both AT&T and the investment bankers are saying they are going to fight it /nt

[avaistheone1]

21. YES! YES! YES!

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

22. Too little, too late. They should have blocked the SBC and Bell South merger

In 2004 and pretty much every single on since then.

[cosmicone]

36. and the Cingular Wireless and AT&T merger as well n/t

[FedUp_Queer]

23. Good News Finally Out of the Justice Department

Source: Huffington Post

By JOELLE TESSLER and PETE YOST, Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- The Justice Department filed suit Wednesday to block AT&T's $39 billion deal to buy T-Mobile USA on grounds that it would raise prices for consumers.

The government contends that the acquisition of the No. 4 wireless carrier in the country by No. 2 AT&T would reduce competition and thus lead to price increases.

At a news conference, Deputy Attorney General James Cole said the combination would result in "tens of millions of consumers all across the United States facing higher prices, fewer choices and lower quality products for mobile wireless services."

The lawsuit seeks to ensure that everyone can continue to receive the benefits of competition, said Cole.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/31/att-tmobile-merger-antitrust-complaint_n_943324.html

---

About damn time someone stood up for real competition. I'm hard on Obama, but he's dead on here (yes, I know it's not technically him doing this).

[goforit]

24. Wow! One block out of a million buyouts is moving up for DJ

[louis-t]

26. Here's a link to a Reuters story with a right-wing slant.

http://news.yahoo.com/u-files-block-t-purchase-t-mobile-source-145133792.html

Twice in this article it says "takeover by the Obama administration". What is that all about? Are they throwing red meat to the teabaggers?

[JDPriestly]

27. Hurrah!

We use Credo and are happy with it.

[Left Coast2020]

30. Before I left for China 2 years ago, I used Credo too.

And loved it as well. But now stuck with T-Mobile in semi-homeless state with no other form of communication. I dispise mergers. They hurt those of us at bottom of ladder. And ATT could give a rats (fill in blank) about those at bottom of ladder.

[Dont call me Shirley]

28. OMG, finally the Sherman Anti-Trust is being dusted off..

after 30 years of being shelved. Don't doubt that verizon is behind this; they wouldn't want to give up their lead without a hellatious fight.

[leftyohiolib]

32. att's statement

DALLAS, August 31, 2011 - We are surprised and disappointed by today's action, particularly since we have met repeatedly with the Department of Justice and there was no indication from the DOJ that this action was being contemplated.

We plan to ask for an expedited hearing so the enormous benefits of this merger can be fully reviewed. The DOJ has the burden of proving alleged anti-competitive effects and we intend to vigorously contest this matter in court.

At the end of the day, we believe facts will guide any final decision and the facts are clear. This merger will:


Help solve our nation's spectrum exhaust situation and improve wireless service for millions;
Allow AT&T to expand 4G LTE mobile broadband to another 55 million Americans, or 97% of the population;
Result in billions of additional investment and tens of thousands of jobs, at a time when our nation needs them most.

We remain confident that this merger is in the best interest of consumers and our country, and the facts will prevail in court.

[FarCenter]

35. CWA: The decision by the U.S. DoJ to seek to block the merger of AT&T and T-Mobile is simply wrong

Washington, D.C. — The decision by the U.S. Department of Justice to seek to block the merger of AT&T and T-Mobile USA is simply wrong.

In today's sinking economy, where millions of Americans are looking for work, the DOJ has filed suit to block a merger that will create as many as 96,000 quality jobs. In the U.S., where too many Americans, especially in rural areas, don't have access to the tools of Internet technology, the DOJ is looking to block a plan to build out high speed wireless access to 97 percent of the country.

In a nation where workers' rights are routinely violated, as occurs everyday at T-Mobile, the DOJ apparently believes that workers should be on their own instead of having a fair choice about union representation.

The DOJ's action would put good jobs and workers' rights at the bottom of the government's priorities. Just yesterday, AT&T announced that it would return a net 5,000 jobs to the U.S. on completion of the merger. That is the kind of corporate responsibility that more employers in the U.S. should demonstrate if we are ever to have an economic recovery.

http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/cwa_doj_lawsuit_to_block_att_t-mobile_merger_is_wrong_decision

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

37. Those guys are on meth if they think this will create 96,000 or even 1 net new job

They should be having a fucking conniption given they represent AT&T employees about to be masacred.

[No Elephants]

34. Don't count chickens before they hatch.

The D of J went after ATT years ago, ordering a break up.

ATT and the D of J ended up settling the case. ATT came out of the deal more profitable. It got rid of the unprofitable operating companies, with all the installations and pesky consumers, and it kept the {then} much more profitable long distance service.

A relative of mine worked for ATT's legal department and spent two years working on the break up. (Yes, sorry. My relative worked for ATT.)

He told me that, when the court asked the D of J's lawyer for the terms of the settlement, the D of J's lawyer was so disgusted he wouldn't even summarize the terms. Instead, he told the judge he was going to let ATT's lawyer give them to the court.

My relative actually smirked when he said that. (In all other ways, a very good person, honest!)

[sudopod]

38. ! nt

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

40. Too bad Judge Green isn't alive to hear this case

It would be great to preside over the breakup of AT&T. Twice.

:hi:

[cstanleytech]

43. except this isnt a case of breaking them up (sadly) but is just about their trying to buy t-mobile.

Hopefully the court (including scotus if it gets that far) will agree that the merger would be as bad as people like myself believe it would be.

[muntrv]

42. I'm a T-Mobile customer. If this merger goes through, I might switch

to Credo.