In its complaint to block the AT&T/T-Mobile merger, Sprint writes: “By acquiring T-Mobile, AT&T would be removing a low price and innovative maverick competitor that provides particularly disruptive competition in the marketplace.” [Sprint Nextel Corporation v AT&T, Complaint Filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Sept. 6, 2011]

But, in truth, a stand-alone T-Mobile would not be a strong competitor.  Without the capital and spectrum to invest in the latest technology, an independent T-Mobile’s market share and asset values will continue to decline, and any hopes of it serving as an “innovative maverick competitor” in the future will be a pipe dream.

Posted by EyeOnSprint in: Merger

Watch Larry Cohen, President of the Communications Workers of America discuss the AT&T/T-Mobile merger on C-SPAN’s The Communicators.

Posted by EyeOnSprint in: Merger

According to Susan Haller, Sprint’s Vice President of Litigation, the company filed a lawsuit opposing the AT&T/T-Mobile merger to continue its “advocacy on behalf of consumers.” [National Journal, 9/6/11]

But, in truth, Sprint is not a consumer advocate, but rather a profit-seeking corporation whose first obligation is to maximize shareholder value.  In fact, Sprint’s opposition to the merger could derail the substantial consumer benefits of an AT&T/T-Mobile combination.

Posted by EyeOnSprint in: Merger

Hesse tried to make the case that somehow the U.S. Department of Justice would consent to the elimination of one of four national competitors, which in the worlds of the DOJ complaint would “result in a significant loss of competition, if the buyer were #3 Sprint and not #2 AT&T.

Posted by EyeOnSprint in: Fact Check Merger

On The Hill’s Congress Blog, David A. Balto, a nationally-known expert on competition policy and a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress writes that the Department of Justice’s lawsuit against AT&T/T-Mobile is contrary to the Obama administration’s goal of creating jobs.

With over 25 years as an antitrust attorney and as the former Policy Director of the Federal Trade Commission, Mr. Balto knows what he is talking about.

Click here to read more at The Hill.

Posted by EyeOnSprint in: Merger