Leaked AT&T Letter Demolishes Case For T-Mobile Merger

[cookiecaper]

The proposition of this merger is one of the most blatantly negative outcomes for the public I've heard in some time. Anyone with even an inkling of sense regarding this industry understands that it would be very dangerous and troublesome for consumers if T-Mo were absorbed into AT&T -- not only would it pare down the oligopoly that is mobile telco and allow further price gouging (which is already quite excessive; cf. 20¢/text), but AT&T would have acquired the entire GSM market in the US, leaving current T-Mo customers with no choice but to use AT&T or get a new phone and foreign visitors with no choice but to roam on AT&T.

> (somewhere there's a paralegal looking for work today)

I like to think that somewhere there's a paralegal holding his head high for the "accidental" damage he inflicted to this potential merger. Good for you, man.

[NoPiece]

I think that is overstating the negative. You basically are going to get significant coverage improvements for TMO and ATT customers, and the cost will be potential price increases due to decreased competition. As an ATT customer, I really want the Tmo bandwidth. I'll take the risk.

[rauljara]

There is already too little competition in carriers (and telecoms in general). Even completely ignoring the document, I can't imagine who thought public good would have been served by allowing such a merger.

[cowkingdeluxe]

Doesn't matter to the politicans. They don't work for the American public, they work for the corporations who give them money and high paying jobs later in life.

[object404]

Additional related articles where a lot of this was sourced (3 of them sourced from each other):

---------

Unredacted AT&T Filing Shows $3.8B Price Tag

By Maisie Ramsay Thursday, August 11, 2011

http://www.wirelessweek.com/news/2011/08/unredacted-ATT-fili...

---------

AT&T Letter Damages Case For T-Mobile Acquisition

Rue Liu, Aug 12th 2011

http://www.slashgear.com/att-letter-damages-case-for-t-mobil...

---------

AT&T’s “Ooops” Damages Their Biggest Argument In Favor Of T-Mobile Takeover

By David, Managing Editor August 12, 2011 4:10 pm EST

http://www.tmonews.com/2011/08/atts-ooops-damages-their-bigg...

[djeikyb]

Is the leaked document available anywhere? I'd love to read it for myself. I'm searching for it, but as yet it eludes me.

[cowkingdeluxe]

Wasn't $3.8 billion around the amount the AT&T has to pay T-Mobile if the merger fails to go through?

[rokhayakebe]

I just cannot wait for a startup to disrupt this space.

[ahi]

How? ATT and Verizon control the spectrum.

[hammock]

As long as spectrum is controlled by the government (FCC), ain't going to happen.