12/20/11 - Main Street Project statement on the end of AT&T's bid for T-Mobile USA
December 20, 2011
For immediate release
Contact: Steven Renderos (952) 594-9263
or Danielle Mkali (612) 879-7571
Main Street Project statement on the end of AT&T's bid for T-Mobile USA
[MINNEAPOLIS, MN] AT&T's announcement that it's dropping a proposed $39 billion merger with T-Mobile USA is a victory for low-income consumers and fair market advocates. The company's announcement comes on the heels of a Department of Justice lawsuit challenging the proposed merger and a recent Federal Communications Commission (FCC) decision to hold a public hearing on the impacts of diminished competition. The merger would have resulted in just two companies, AT&T and Verizon, controlling 70 percent of the cell phone market.
Minneapolis-based Main Street Project partnered with over 140 media justice organizations through the Media Action Grassroots Network (MAG-Net) to oppose the merger because of the potential for economic harm to low-income communities and communities of color. In addition to submitting comments to the FCC, Main Street Project staff provided issue training and support to engage hundreds of Minnesotans in the debate and regulatory process.
"AT&T has finally decided to rethink what's possible," said Steven Renderos, media justice program director. "The benefits of this merger were overstated from the beginning and the company's arguments were short on facts."
"We've known all along who would bear the costs of reduced competition, fewer jobs and higher prices," added Danielle Mkali, media justice organizer. "It's those who can least afford it - low-income families, people of color and rural communities. This time their voices were heard."
Main Street Project works for economic and media justice for immigrants, people of color and those with low incomes so all can participate in community life. mainstreetproject.org.
MSP_statement_on_end_of_AT&T's_bid_for_T-Mobile.pdf