US Govt Files Antitrust Lawsuit Against AT&T

If you were looking forward to T-Mobile being bought out by AT&T to improve the network, I've got bad news for you. The US government has now filed a lawsuit against AT&T over the acquisition. An attorney with the department of justice said that "AT&T’s elimination of T-Mobile as an independent, low-priced rival would remove a significant competitive force from the market".

It's true, a low cost option would be eliminated. Sprint has detailed ways that AT&T could improve their network without buying T-Mobile. Also, T-Mobile customers would have access to a better network, but there was no word on whether or not their rates would increase.

It's looking like the deal may fall through. Is this good for consumers, or did Sprint's lobbying really work? Either way, it looks as though T-Mobile will remain an option for consumers. It may have worse coverage, but it is also cheaper than plans on AT&T or Verizon. Perhaps their customers are comfortable exchanging coverage for pricing. To many, a lower cell phone bill is more important than fast data speeds and great coverage, which is why options like T-Mobile are necessary.
via CultOfMac