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T-Mobile is an upstart wireless provider that revolutionized the industry with No-Contract, No-Credit Check plans and a strong focus on customers. But today we’re adding T-Mobile to the list of bad actors and urging the FCC to reject their proposed merger with Sprint. For 15 years we’ve been opposing moves by Verizon, Comcast, AT&T, Sinclair — and anyone else with a harmful media agenda — and we’re not stopping now.
Today is an important FCC deadline for submitting formal opposition to the T-Mobile/Sprint merger: Sign the petition now and tell them to reject this disastrous deal.
T-Mobile’s PR department has been working overtime to sell this merger, but the fact is that the loss of two wireless competitors will mean higher prices for everyone.
The proof is in recent history. After acquiring DirectTV, AT&T didn’t waste much time before raising the price of its streaming service1 as well as certain data plans.2 And when Charter acquired Time Warner Cable, all hell broke loose.3 One customer in Kentucky faced a particularly painful experience: “Daniel Fitzgerald shares a one-bedroom Lexington apartment with his disabled son. Charter Communications abruptly blacked out most of the family’s cable channels in late March and then demanded a $36 monthly rate increase, plus a $24 service fee, before it would restore them.” 4 |
Tell the FCC to reject this merger. We can’t go back to the days when mobile phones were exclusive to the rich, especially now that they’re most people’s only phone and internet connection.
People of color and people with lower incomes disproportionately choose T-Mobile and Sprint brands instead of AT&T and Verizon.5 If T-Mobile merges with Sprint, the newly-formed conglomerate will likely shift toward the approach of AT&T and Verizon, which will hurt their customers and push out the most vulnerable people in our society.
T-Mobile and Sprint leaders say this merger is necessary in order to upgrade customers to 5G, but in reality they were already planning to deploy 5G networks. The deployment plans are already in place.
Here’s the truth: This deal will only benefit Wall Street. And that’s why we need your help — and your voice — to stop it.
Thanks for all that you do—
Collette, Nilda, Lucia and the rest of the Free Press team
freepress.net
1. “AT&T/DirecTV Now prices are rising, weeks after Time Warner deal closed,” USA Today, July 2, 2018: https://act.freepress.net/go/26634?t=7&akid=10665%2E10296224%2ECbAg5y 2. “AT&T imposes another $5 price hike on grandfathered unlimited data plans,” ArsTechnica, June 8, 2018: https://act.freepress.net/go/26635?t=9&akid=10665%2E10296224%2ECbAg5y 3. “Here’s how Charter is screwing the customers it bought from Time Warner Cable,” BGR.com, August 3, 2017: https://act.freepress.net/go/26636?t=11&akid=10665%2E10296224%2ECbAg5y 4. “‘What the hell?’: TV screens go dark as Spectrum cuts channels, raises prices,” Lexington Herald-Leader, April 28, 2017: https://act.freepress.net/go/26637?t=13&akid=10665%2E10296224%2ECbAg5y 5. “The T-Mobile/Sprint Merger Is Bad News. Here's Why,” Free Press Action, May 1, 2018: https://act.freepress.net/go/25409?t=15&akid=10665%2E10296224%2ECbAg5y |
