AT&T Responds To DoJ Lawsuit

An anonymous reader writes "Last week the Department of Justice filed an antitrust complaint to stop the merger between AT&T and T-Mobile USA. Now, AT&T has responded, arguing that the merger would benefit consumers by increasing competition and freeing up spectrum. 'That means increased output, higher quality service, fewer dropped calls,and lower prices to consumers than without the merger,' they say. Meanwhile, House Republicans have sent a letter to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and Attorney General Eric Holder asking for an explanation of 'what went into the decision to challenge the merger and whether the agencies considered the impact on jobs and economic growth.' A hearing is scheduled for Sept. 21."

AT&T seems evil

[Ken Broadfoot]

I use AT&T... but the fact they have an exclusive with Apple, and they want T-Mobile.... doesn't remind ANYONE here of another company we tend to love to hate?
Speak about the "freedom" of the free market all you want, but I for one, applaud the governments actions here... Fsck AT&T...

Bullshit.

[Xacid]

How in the hell does acquiring a company like this result in MORE competition?

And lower rates? Just like us Cingular customers got? Yeah, right.

How can they even make such claims - that's damned near perjury.

Re:Nonsense

[Anonymous Coward]

How does it increase jobs? How does it increase economic growth? Here is a hint: all those cost reduction and merger synergies? They don't come from employing more people.

Re:AT&T seems evil

[guspasho]

Competition > free markets

Free markets are far from perfect; monopolies are only the most obvious flaw. Additionally, it's arguable whether a market dominated by a private monopoly is actually free. Free from governmental force, sure, but that isn't the only kind of freedom that is implied by the term free market.

Re:Impact on jobs?

[SeNtM]

Oops, I forgot... The total of all US citizens is only worth three-fifths that of one Fortune-500 corporation.

Re:Impact on jobs?

[bmxeroh]

This. I find myself to be a conservative moderate most days, with a few exceptions on some major issues. But the elected repubs are pissing me off. It is almost always about being completely polar opposite to anything Obama says or does now, that absolutely nothing gets done. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of Obama, and the next time there is a republican pres. I will be bitching about the dems for the same reasons, but this is entirely why nothing gets done in the U.S. We spend more time pissing in each others cheerios than actually trying to come up with something useful. I mean for fucks sake, I get tax raises are unpopular, but there is no reason the tax code should benefit the well off and corps as much as it does. I don't get it, I honestly think that you may gain some popular vote by taking a slightly harder stance here, being as the bulk of the people won't fall into the wealthy category. Ugh, sorry for the ridiculous political rant.

Re:Bullshit.

[Anonymous Coward]

I Agree, but the more glaring item for me is the question from republicans about "Did the decision to oppose the merger consider the impact on jobs or economic growth???". this is comical to say the least, as ALL mergers result in job loss and what I would call REAL economic contraction. The ONLY point of a merger like this is to create a company with the combined market share of the original companies, but with a smaller overhead through the elimination of duplicate administrative overhead. The ONLY people that benefit are stockholders! Consumers see NO real measuable impact one way or the other (this coming from a user of former compaq products pre and post Hp merger) and there has never been a merger that added jobs.

Re:Nonsense

[interkin3tic]

You appear to be looking for logic and reason in a corporate press statement. That's a bit like seeking health advice in a morgue.