Attorney General James T. Hood issued the following statement.
Attorney General Jim Hood joined nine states Tuesday in filing a multi-state lawsuit to halt the proposed merger of telecom giants T-Mobile and Sprint. The complaint, which was filed in New York federal court, alleges that the merger of two of the four national mobile network operators would deprive consumers of the benefits of competition and drive up prices for cellphone services.
“We’re trying to stop this merger because Mississippi customers would not benefit from the merger, but it would likely increase prices in the long run for them,” General Hood said. “Competition creates a healthy market, and a merger like this one would reduce options for consumers.”
T-Mobile US Inc. and Sprint Corp. are the third and fourth largest mobile wireless networks in the U.S., respectively, and are the lower-cost carriers among the “Big Four.” Verizon Wireless and AT&T — the two largest wireless networks — round out the market. Intense competition, spurred in particular by T-Mobile and Sprint, has meant declining prices, increased coverage, and better quality for all mobile phone subscribers. Since 2009, the average cost of mobile service has fallen by roughly 28 percent, according to the Labor Department, while mobile data consumption has grown rapidly. However, the merger would put an end to that fierce competition, which has delivered so many benefits to consumers.
Currently, the average U.S. household spends approximately $1,100 annually on cellphone services. For many families, especially those with lower incomes, even a small price increase can result in suspension or cancellation of cellphone service. While T-Mobile and Sprint have made promises that their merger would offer lightning-fast speeds and increased capacity, the attorneys’ general investigation found that many of the claimed benefits were not verifiable. Before filing suit, the states gave significant consideration to T-Mobile and Sprint’s claims of increased coverage in rural areas. However, T-Mobile has yet to provide plans to build any new cell sites in areas that would not otherwise be served by either T-Mobile or Sprint. As stated in the complaint, the U.S. previously won the “race to LTE” as a direct result of vigorous competition among wireless carriers. Continued competition, not concentration, is most likely to spur rapid development of a nationwide 5G network and other innovations.
Additionally, the merger would harm thousands of hard-working mobile wireless independent dealers across the nation. The nine states and DC are concerned that further consolidation at the carrier level would lead to a substantial loss of retail jobs, as well as lower pay for these workers in the near future.
T-Mobile currently has more than 79 million subscribers and is a majority-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom AG. Sprint Corp. currently has more than 54 million subscribers and is a majority-owned subsidiary of SoftBank Group Corp.
The following states joined Mississippi in filing the complaint: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Michigan, New York, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Wisconsin.
31 comments:
Thanks for nothing, Conway. Further evidence as to why you don’t want a Democrat as AG.
Jim Hood is a complete and utter communist idiot. He's spouting that "free college" for all thing.....unreal.
So Hood joined the leftist, socialist states (look at them, that’s what all of them are) in a law suit against those evil capitalist companies. Typical dim-o-crap move. Just what we don’t need for a governor.
Scruggs, Epps, Adams and now T-Mobile/Sprint. Damn, Jim Hood is knocking 'em down like bowling pins.
Talk about getting out of your lane. Jeez
Sprint and T-Mobile have the weakest cellular coverage in Mississippi, and neither of them have the capital to improve it.
Maybe a merger could help them do something about that.
I'm not sure why the AG thinks blocking this would make anything better. It doesn't matter what they charge if their service is basically unusable.
Hood — an anti- corporate warrior!
Looking out for the little man as well as his out of state plaintiff firm donors.
Hood may not be as dumb as he looks. He might be trying to get some of the CSPIRE campaign donation money
You leftist Republicans have Ronald Reagan spinning in his grave. Competition is the foundation of free markets, and you have to have competitors to create that.
T-Mobile has crappy coverage in most of Mississippi. Not only here but in New Orleans, Memphis, Dallas and Denver. Suck. Don’t use Sprint but have heard the same of their coverage. Let the free market do it’s thing, Jimbo.
Do you need more time to mull it over, Jimbo?
I just don't want anyone complaining about Google or Amazon.
These comments show why Mississippi constantly ranks #50.
Sweet Baby Jesus! Just stop already. It ain’t gonna get you elected.....
These comments show why Mississippi constantly ranks #50.
AND why each of your own stupid droning comments are laughable.
Mississippi will drop its suit as soon as the new Republican Attorney General takes office early next year.
These comments are faker than fox news . I guess now we know where some of the Tater camp’s vast fortune of corporate bribes is going.
The only thing I know about T-mobile is that my first smartphone was a T-Mobile Sidekick2 from 2004-2006 when most people I knew had a Moto Razr.
I remember that the network was slow and the phone was slow, but I could access the www as well as irc/chat.
I could also take 640x480 digital photos that look like postage stamps today.
Look at the list of states joining this lawsuit and then tell me Hood is a "conservative Democrat". He blew his cover with this one.
This is not the thing a State AG should be doing. This is being done for the wrong reasons.
Look at all of the blue state AGs that he is getting in bed with. Has there been a big bump in his PAC?
Jimmy boy, you be hood-winking again.
Keep Government out of our business(es)!!!
If Hood will meddle with the free market as AG Just think what he will screw up as Governor!!!
MS needs a friend of business not an anti-business governor!
"Faker than Fox News": Right, Jim Acosta claims CNN never takes sides, yet CNN gave Hillary the debate questions prior to the debate.
Liberals have become so deranged they cannot make simple deductions of logic.
I saw what you did there 8:26
If you want to see a disconnect in the state of Mississippi, while Jim Hood is busy opposing the T-Mo/Sprint merger, local wireless carrier C-Spire is not opposing the merger:
"Meanwhile, regional carrier C Spire Wireless has come out in support of the T-Mobile-Sprint merger after previously opposing it. “Our advocacy was limited to a narrow set of issues, and we are no longer concerned that those issues should prevent the transaction from being approved,” C Spire told Light Reading. C Spire previously argued that the merger would reduce the number of viable roaming partners."
As per: https://www.tmonews.com/2019/05/t-mobile-sprint-merger-comcast-spectrum-c-spire/
Next in his list of Leftist Liberal Lunatic Hat Tricks, he will oppose Amazon like his counter parts Bernie and AOC.
Those opposed to this are complete fools. Communist? Do you know what that is? Last time I checked Commies aren't fighting for a free, diverse and competitive market. The same people saying it isn't the AG's place would 100% support other cases such as challenges to the ACA etc. where we would stick our noses where they don't belong to fit your politics. Also how simple minded do you have to be to think the Mississippi AG isn't supposed to act in the interest of Mississippi consumers? Hate to break it to you, but you don't get to vote for politicians that turn Mississippi into an absolute economic sh!#hole then oppose measures meant to keep prices affordable. What about Mississippi businesses? Ever heard of CSPIRE? Yall are the reason we are 50th and will REMAIN 50th and frankly I'm convinced that's precisely what you want.
I'm looking for a job. If any of the Tater camp here would like to hire some more commenters, look me up.
Hopefully Kim Kardashian gave Phil Bryant some good tips on how to handle the leftist hollywood and their liberal agenda for Mississippi. We aren't used to dealing with opposing viewpoints down here so it's amazing that our little state has a direct line to the Kardashians so they can share their vast experience with us and the Republican party. No one know fighting hollywood like Kim K and Donald T! Congrats to the Mississippi GOP on this important new ally!!
Yall are the reason we are 50th and will REMAIN 50th and frankly I'm convinced that's precisely what you want.
There you go again and again and again and again. Your inability to give it a rest is symptomatic of some deep seated mental problems. Seek help ASAP.
I've been voting Republican for several years now, and have been vey disappointed in what's been going on with the MS House and Senate. I think I'm going to vote for him for Governor to shake things up a little.. He certainly can't do any worse than what's been done.
All we need is a One World Corporation that controls all. Just one big giant holding company a million times the size of Berkshire Hathaway. One merger & acquisition at a time. LBO loans to the rescue!
**slowly backs away from the telecom debt profile***
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