AT&T, T-Mobile Merger -- an open letter to the Federal Trade Commission

There is discussion about a merger between AT&T and T-Mobile.

Today there are only four significant players in the cell phone market.

A merger between AT&T and T-Mobile would effectively reduce that number to two. The resulting company would only experience realistic competition from Verizon. Sprint would become a distant third competitor.

I see two critical issues:

• First, we need more competition among mobile phone service providers, not less. Consumers pay significantly more in the United States than other countries for service. A merger will likely lead to increased prices and could potentially lead to poorer overall quality.
• Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, the United States is becoming increasingly dependent on mobile data communications. We need more competition to increase bandwidth speeds, increase quality, and decrease expenses to consumers and businesses.

I believe approving a merger between AT&T and T-Mobile would be irresponsible and dangerous.

As a small business owner, competing on regional, national or international marketplaces will be difficult if not impossible without improving opportunities and the infrastructure of mobile Internet service.

As a consumer, I recognize the value of Internet service to all people. Making mobile Internet services unaffordable to low income groups of consumers could have dangerous consequences to those citizens, as well as our nation as a whole.

I urge the Federal Trade Commission to stimulate the growth of small business by preventing media giants such as AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Comcast, broadcast networks and Sprint from increasing the stranglehold they already have on the flow of information and commerce.

Sincerely,

Jason Tweed