The Rural Telecommunications Group, a trade association representing rural wireless carriers who each serve less than 100,000 subscribers, condemned A&T’s proposed acquisition of T-Mobile USA, saying the deal would ultimately result in a duopoly of AT&T versus Verizon.
“November 4, 2008, the day the FCC approved the Alltel/Verizon merger under Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin, was the first day the United States wireless market ceased to be competitive,” stated RTG’s General Counsel, Caressa Bennet. “The market has failed and T-Mobile’s decision to throw in the towel only confirms it.” The Department of Justice and the FCC have approved similar mergers in the past and American consumers should brace themselves for losing yet another marketplace choice in the mobile sector.”http://www.ruraltelecomgroup.org
