CONSUMER NEWS    RECALLS    COMPLAINT FORM    SCAM ALERTS  


Complain about a product or service

Small Claims Guide | Class Actions | Lemon Law | FAQ | Resources | Newsletters | Spanish
Automotive    Education    Electronics    Family    Finance    Health    Homeowners    Shopping    Travel   
NEWS   Latest |  Archives |  Auto |  Cells, etc. |  Computers |  Financial |  Health |  Homeowners |  Parents |  Privacy |  Scams |  Seniors |  Travel

Justice Dept. OKs AT&T, MCI Sell-Outs





By James R. Hood
ConsumerAffairs.com

October 28, 2005
The Justice Department has given its blessing to the purchase of MCI by Verizon and AT&T by SBC, with the Federal Communications Commission expected to do the same, possibly as early as today.

AT&T
Slamming
Long Distance
Local
Wireless
Broadband
Telemarketers
---
News
AT&T Agrees to Refund Some Ringtone Charges
States Asked to Probe AT&T U-Verse Explosions
AT&T Exits Pay Phone Business
AT&T Changes Contract Policy
AT&T Changes Terms Of Service After Outcry
AT&T Agrees to New Stolen Cell Phone Rules
AT&T Stiffens Language Covering Objectionable Content
AT&T Adds Parental Controls To Mobile Phones
AT&T Slammed Over Rebate Policies
Appeals Court Shreds AT&T Arbitration Clause
Court OKs Rebate Lawsuit against Cingular/AT&T
AT&T Trashes Cingular Brand
AT&T Offers Net Neutrality Concessions To Win Merger Approval
FCC Delays Decision On AT&T/BellSouth Deal
Justice Department Green Lights AT&T-BellSouth Merger
FCC Clears the Way for AT&T-BellSouth Merger
AT&T Trumpets New TV Service
AT&T Web Site Hacked; Customer Data Exposed
AT&T Sues Calling Record Brokers
AT&T Declares Consumers' Personal Data "Corporate Property"
AT&T Plans to Kill Cingular Name
Report: AT&T Acquiring BellSouth
SBC Recast as AT&T
FCC approves AT&T, MCI Deals
Justice Dept. OKs AT&T, MCI Sell-Outs
SBC Will Keep AT&T Name
Consumer Groups Oppose Big Telco Mergers
SBC Buys AT&T
AT&T Will Pay Refunds to New Yorkers
AT&T Will Pull Out of 7 States
AT&T Teams With Sprint to Return to Wireless Business
Minnesota Sues AT&T
Class Action Charges AT&T With Slamming
Another AT&T Rate Hike
AT&T Hiking Minimum Fees
AT&T Faces $780,000 Do-Not-Call Fine
AT&T Will Run Do-Not-Call List
Supreme Court Denies AT&T's Appeal of Arbitration Ruling

The two deals, totaling more than $24 billion, come close to putting the telephone industry back together again.

It was a Justice Department antitrust suit that, back in 1984, led a federal judge to order the break-up of AT&T into separate long-distance and local units. Now the two biggest long-distance carriers will be owned by the two biggest local companies, which have already devoured most of the other "Baby Bells."

The only thing that has changed is that the telephone business isn't what it used to be. Consumers are choosing wireless over wired phones and millions more are getting their phone service from their cable television provider.

SBC is hoping the AT&T name helps it sell more data transmission and long-distance service to big business customers. Verizon's purchase of MCI is seen as largely defensive; if SBC has a long-distance company, this reasoning goes, then Verizon needs one too. Never mind that both companies already successfully sell long-distance service to their customers.

To protect competition, the Justice Department said it will require both Verizon and SBC to sell some high-volume business lines in 19 cities where it found significant antitrust problems.

The FCC is likely to make a few stipulations as well, intended mostly to protect consumers and ensure open Internet access.

Major business customers aren't jumping with joy over the deal, which they think is almost certain to raise prices.

The Justice Department is requiring the companies to divest their connections to more than 350 buildings in such major markets as New York, Washington and Los Angeles. The FCC may require the companies to sell Internet access to customers who don't have traditional local telephone service.



Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.


Consumer News

July 9 2008

Recent Recalls & Safety Alerts

Print, mail, etc.




FREE CONSUMER NEWSLETTERS

The Daily Consumer
Afternoons M-F

Sign up now!


Consumer News & Alerts
Every Sunday

Sign up now!


Knowledge is free.
Knowledge is power.



Back to the top |

Advertisement


Home | Rogues Gallery | Good Guys | Complaint Form | News | Recalls | Search | Video | FAQ |
Consumer Resources | Small Claims Guide | Lemon Law | Newsletter | Contact Us
Advertise With Us | Testimonials | Newsroom | RSS Feeds | Radio | Job Postings




Terms of Use Your use of this site constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use

Advertisements on this site are placed and controlled by outside advertising networks. ConsumerAffairs.com does not evaluate or endorse the products and services advertised. See the FAQ for more information.

Company Response Welcome If complaints about your company appear on our site, we welcome your response. Please see the Response Form for more information.

For more information, see the FAQ and privacy policy. The information on this Web site is general in nature and is not intended as a substitute for competent legal advice.  ConsumerAffairs.com Inc. makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information herein provided and assumes no liability for any damages or loss arising from the use thereof. 

Copyright © 2003-2008 ConsumerAffairs.com Inc.  All Rights Reserved.