mergers

Our friends at TmoNews got their hands on a very interesting document that foretells how current T-Mobile service plans will be affected if the proposed AT&T merger goes through. Though we've always known that AT&T's will honor T-Mobile's contracts through the end of their life, this employee FAQ says that customers can keep their plans "as long as they want to, even when their term ends and the service continues on a month-to-month basis."

Exactly what that means remains to be seen. In previous carrier mergers, customers were allowed to keep … Read more

Wireless provider Cellular South has filed suit against AT&T's proposed T-Mobile merger, arguing that the deal should not be approved.

In a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and seen by CNET, Cellular South argues that AT&T's proposed acquisition of T-Mobile USA violates the Clayton Antitrust Act, and, echoing the concerns of other critics, says that the deal would stifle competition in the marketplace.

"The proposed merger will allow AT&T to increase this influence by eliminating T-Mobile as an independent source of demand for … Read more

AT&T has talked to smaller rivals about divesting spectrum and customers in an effort to salvage its deal with T-Mobile USA, according to Bloomberg.

AT&T has talked to MetroPCS Communications and Leap Wireless about selling some of its assets. The telecom giant is also talking to CenturyLink, Dish Network, and even Sprint Nextel--which has opposed the deal--about their interest in buying assets.

AT&T has been scrambling to save a deal that was put in jeopardy when theU.S. Department of Justice recently sued to block the merger, which would create the nation's … Read more

Editors' note: This story was originally published on June 13. It has been updated with new information.

Almost three months to the day since AT&T first announced its $39 billion bid for T-Mobile, federal scrutiny of the deal is well under way. AT&T has filed its paperwork with the Federal Communications Commission, the public is weighing in on the FCC's Web site, and opponents and supporters are lining up.

Though the U.S. Senate has held hearings as well, only the Department of Justice and the FCC have the official power to approve or deny … Read more

Seven states have hopped on the growing bandwagon of opponents of AT&T's planned acquisition of T-Mobile USA.

The attorneys general of California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Washington today joined the U.S. Department of Justice's lawsuit to block the deal between AT&T and T-Mobile.

The participation of the states adds another dose of uncertainty to a deal that is already teetering on the edge of collapse. The Justice Department's decision to oppose the merger has thrown AT&T for a loop, leaving the telecommunications giant scrambling to save the … Read more

As if the White House doesn't have enough things to deal with at the moment, a collective of 15 House Democrats are now putting pressure on the president to deal with the AT&T and T-Mobile merger.

Led by U.S. Representative Heath Shuler (D-N.C.), the group is asking President Obama to direct the Justice Department to settle the government's lawsuit that would block the proposed acquisition, which is supposed to be decided upon quite soon.

The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit last month against the $39 billion deal citing potential violations of U.S. … Read more

Three Republican members of Congress aren't happy with the recent decision by the Department of Justice to block AT&T's proposed $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile.

In a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder and Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski, Representatives Joe Barton (R-Tex.), Fred Upton (R-Mich.), and Greg Walden (R-Ore.) asked for briefings describing the specific concerns of both agencies and "how these concerns relate to the impact on jobs and economic growth."

AT&T filed a response to the Justice Department's lawsuit to block the merger with T-Mobile USA today, claiming the agency fails to understand the benefits of the deal and isn't painting an accurate picture of the competitive environment.

The Dallas telecommunications giant largely brought up the same arguments it first made to regulators: that the deal would allow AT&T to gain access to more spectrum, let the company provide wireless broadband access to more people, and that it would provide more competition in an already competitive industry. The filing also contains specific responses denying … Read more

T-Mobile USA may look to split itself into pieces for multiple buyers if its deal with AT&T falls through.

That's according to Mizuho Securities analyst Michael Nelson, who said in a research note issued today that companies such as MetroPCS, Leap Wireless, and U.S. Cellular have significant interest in picking up new markets. T-Mobile could also break itself up into multiple parts as part of a divestiture plan that AT&T would work out with regulators to get approval for the deal.

"Our analysis indicates MetroPCS, Leap, and U.S. Cellular could have significant … Read more