NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] Wired: Why Feds Are Right to Block AT&T, T-Mobile Merger
Wired: Why Feds Are Right to Block AT&T, T-Mobile Merger
http://j.mp/pUrP00 (Wired)
"Though you'll likely hear a lot of bitching and moaning about the move
from politicians in the coming days, this is best thing to come out of
Washington, D.C., since the Do-Not-Call list.
...
Sadly, some of the nation's biggest tech players rallied to AT&T's
defense. Facebook, Yahoo, and Microsoft, among others, filed a
petition in support of the merger, buying into AT&T's threat not to
build out a nationwide 4G network unless it got to buy T-Mobile.
[Lauren: Notice the obvious name missing from that infamous list?]
...
Wired asked the three companies if they were re-thinking their
support, which AT&T likes to trot out, in light of the Justice
Department's filing on Wednesday. Microsoft declined to comment,
while Facebook and Yahoo simply ignored our e-mails seeking
comment.
...
Of course, it's not clear whether T-Mobile can continuing operating
much longer, given its parent company Deutsche Telekom has said it's
not going to be sinking more money into the company. But if the merger
is rejected, T-Mobile will get $3 billion in much-needed cash, some
AT&T spectrum and some rights to cheaper calls into the AT&T network.
That might be enough for an independent T-Mobile to strike some
interesting deals with smaller players like Leap or MetroPCS or find
some ways to work with Clearwire or LightSquared to expand its
spectrum footprint. There are plenty of avenues left for a maverick in
a four national carrier world."
- - -
--Lauren--
Lauren Weinstein (lauren@vortex.com): http://www.vortex.com/lauren
Co-Founder: People For Internet Responsibility: http://www.pfir.org
Founder:
- Network Neutrality Squad: http://www.nnsquad.org
- Global Coalition for Transparent Internet Performance: http://www.gctip.org
- PRIVACY Forum: http://www.vortex.com
Member: ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com
Google+: http://vortex.com/g+lauren
Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenweinstein
Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 / Skype: vortex.com