NCL statement on AT&T-T-Mobile USA merger announcement – National Consumers League

March 20, 2011

Contact: NCL Communications, (202) 835-3323, media@nclnet.org

Washington, D.C. – The National Consumers League, the country’s pioneering consumer organization, today called on the FCC and Department of Justice to vigorously review the proposed AT&T-T-Mobile USA merger to ensure that the public interest is protected.

The following statement is attributable to Sally Greenberg, Executive Director of the National Consumers League:

“Consumers rarely win when there are fewer choices.  The potential for additional wireless industry consolidation posed by this deal is greatly troubling.  Competition between multiple carriers has driven much of the consumer benefit in the wireless industry over the past decade.  This merger threatens that competition by potentially reducing the number of major national carriers from four to three. We therefore urge the Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission to closely scrutinize this deal to ensure that the public interest — not the bottom lines of wireless giants – is protected.”

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About the National Consumers League

Founded in 1899, the National Consumers League is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Its mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. NCL is a private, nonprofit membership organization. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org