Author Topic: AT&T/T-Mobile merger  (Read 2368 times)

Offline Killer91

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AT&T/T-Mobile merger
« on: March 21, 2011, 02:16:32 PM »
So I was reding today about AT&T and T-Mobile might merge and it got me to thinking.. Just a couple weeks ago in my college history class we were talking about anti-trust laws. Now we didn't go into great detail on them, just their main functions. So how exactly can these two companies merge with these laws in place?
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Offline MachFly

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Re: AT&T/T-Mobile merger
« Reply #1 on: March 21, 2011, 02:20:58 PM »
The way I understand it is that they are merging, not one company buying the other. If it's not one company buying the other than you can't call it eliminating competition so it's perfectly legal.


As least that's the way I understand it (I don't really study law).
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Offline Shuffler

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Re: AT&T/T-Mobile merger
« Reply #2 on: March 21, 2011, 02:24:48 PM »
The way I understand it is that they are merging, not one company buying the other. If it's not one company buying the other than you can't call it eliminating competition so it's perfectly legal.


As least that's the way I understand it (I don't really study law).

AT&T is wanting to buy T-Mobile for 39 billion. AT&T has not been able to build towers fast enough. Many folks do not want an ugly tower in their back yard. One way they have chosen to rectify the situation is to buy another company with towers. This, of course, will only happen if they can jump through all the hoops required by government.

Funny thing is that I just left T-Mobile for AT&T.
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Offline Ardy123

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Re: AT&T/T-Mobile merger
« Reply #3 on: March 21, 2011, 02:28:00 PM »
The way I understand it is that they are merging, not one company buying the other. If it's not one company buying the other than you can't call it eliminating competition so it's perfectly legal.


As least that's the way I understand it (I don't really study law).

It has not been approved the the FTC yet. The general litmus test is if there are 5 or more competitors in the field and not one competitor of comparable size. Now, At&t is going to claim that there are way more than 5 competitors and list off a slew of regional carriers. Its the FTC's job to deiced what 'comparable size' means, and if regional carriers equate to that. Its also unclear what 'industry' your talking about, At&T could say, we are not in the 'cell phone' market, we are in the 'communications market' and thus expand 'the net' so to speak that their sector encompasses to include more than 5 major competitors. One could see them arguing that they compete with ISP etc... as they themselves have an ISP service and mobile phones now days are more about a connection to the Internet than just for talking.
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Offline Jayhawk

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Re: AT&T/T-Mobile merger
« Reply #4 on: March 21, 2011, 02:46:01 PM »
If AT&T is willing to spend $39,000,000,000 for it, I'm guessing they won't hesitate to kick a little bit to the FTC guys who are going to make this decision.  I have no doubt this will go through.
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Offline oakranger

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Re: AT&T/T-Mobile merger
« Reply #5 on: March 21, 2011, 02:49:11 PM »
So I was reding today about AT&T and T-Mobile might merge and it got me to thinking.. Just a couple weeks ago in my college history class we were talking about anti-trust laws. Now we didn't go into great detail on them, just their main functions. So how exactly can these two companies merge with these laws in place?

Did the class teach you that there are loop holes in the laws?
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Offline Delirium

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Re: AT&T/T-Mobile merger
« Reply #6 on: March 21, 2011, 02:54:57 PM »
Many folks do not want an ugly tower in their back yard.

I would really like to have an 'ugly tower' in my backyard. These cellphone companies pay about $1k a month just for the space.

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Offline oakranger

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Re: AT&T/T-Mobile merger
« Reply #7 on: March 21, 2011, 02:56:17 PM »
I would really like to have an 'ugly tower' in my backyard. These cellphone companies pay about $1k a month just for the space.



hummmm......
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Offline Shuffler

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Re: AT&T/T-Mobile merger
« Reply #8 on: March 21, 2011, 03:05:25 PM »
They pay nicely for maintenance services too..... mowing, weed eating, etc.
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Offline CAP1

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Re: AT&T/T-Mobile merger
« Reply #9 on: March 21, 2011, 03:06:42 PM »
So I was reding today about AT&T and T-Mobile might merge and it got me to thinking.. Just a couple weeks ago in my college history class we were talking about anti-trust laws. Now we didn't go into great detail on them, just their main functions. So how exactly can these two companies merge with these laws in place?

I MAY JUST HAVE to switch to verizon now......i like t-mobile.....but i can only see them going down hill from this.....at&t sucks
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Offline Shuffler

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Re: AT&T/T-Mobile merger
« Reply #10 on: March 21, 2011, 03:14:11 PM »
I MAY JUST HAVE to switch to verizon now......i like t-mobile.....but i can only see them going down hill from this.....at&t sucks

I was with T-Mobile for the last 9 years. I left them about a month back. While their services was ok, they didn't work in some of the hill country. My T-Mobile guy was a good fella. Always took care of all his customers. Hated to leave but that is just how it is.........
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Offline Dichotomy

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Re: AT&T/T-Mobile merger
« Reply #11 on: March 21, 2011, 03:14:50 PM »
I would really like to have an 'ugly tower' in my backyard. These cellphone companies pay about $1k a month just for the space.



more than that depending on the location. 
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Offline Spikes

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Re: AT&T/T-Mobile merger
« Reply #12 on: March 21, 2011, 03:16:17 PM »
Yup, we have one on our property. We also have 3 or 4 power lines like these:


Luckily we own 80ish acres of land and none of them can be seen from the house.
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Offline gyrene81

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Re: AT&T/T-Mobile merger
« Reply #13 on: March 21, 2011, 03:17:16 PM »
great, now i won't have any real choices when my contract is up...where i live, with verizon "can you hear me now"...gets answered with !@%$%!@3 no!!!
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Offline CAP1

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Re: AT&T/T-Mobile merger
« Reply #14 on: March 21, 2011, 03:17:57 PM »
I would really like to have an 'ugly tower' in my backyard. These cellphone companies pay about $1k a month just for the space.



with that in mind....they can place one on my property tomorrow....
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