You are on page 1of 2

October

14, 2011

Attorney General Lori Swanson 1400 Bremer Tower 445 Minnesota Street St. Paul, MN 55101 RE: Proposed Acquisition of T-Mobile USA, Inc. by AT&T Inc. Dear Attorney General Swanson: The undersigned organizations strongly support the decision of the Department of Justice and the bi-partisan group of eight (8) attorneys general1 to file suit to block the proposed acquisition of T-Mobile USA, Inc. by AT&T Inc. (the "Proposed Transaction"). We urge you to conclude--as the attorneys general from seven states and Puerto Rico have--that the Proposed Transaction is harmful to competition, consumers and the public interest and is contrary to antitrust laws. We urge you to support and participate in the lawsuit to block the Proposed Transaction. We appreciate the comments you made shortly after the Proposed Transaction was announced where you acknowledged the detriment of excessive concentration. We further appreciate the efforts your office has undertaken to examine the impacts of the transaction by reviewing documents and coordinating with other state attorneys general. The purpose of the antitrust laws is to prevent mergers that reduce competition, and AT&T's proposed purchase of its competitor T-Mobile must be evaluated against the spirit of those laws. This Proposed Transaction harms competition and the community members that the undersigned groups represent. We all depend on our wireless devices daily to conduct business, connect with our families and help us in emergency situations. The potential negative impact on wireless markets in

In addition to the U.S. Department of Justice, the Attorneys General of California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico and Washington are plaintiffs in Civil No.11-01560 (ESH) in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

Attorney General Lori Swanson October 14, 2011 Page 2

Minnesota and nationally, being dominated by two vertically integrated suppliers (post-merger AT&T and Verizon) with nearly 80% of wireless customers and revenues, is too great. Among other negative results, a merger of this magnitude would lead to higher wireless prices, harm innovation and cause job losses which no Minnesota can afford . Your support and participation to block the Proposed Transaction is needed. Minnesota should send a strong signal that competition and innovation is the best way to grow our economy and the nations antitrust laws must be enforced. Thanks for your consideration and attention to our request that you join the other attorneys generals efforts to stop the Proposed Transaction. Sincerely, amalia deloney, Center for Media Justice Niel Ritchie, League of Rural Voters Janis Lane-Ewart, KFAI, Fresh Air, Inc. Laura Waterman Wittstock, First Person Radio Andy Driscoll, TruthToTell Danielle Mkali, Main Street Project Elaine Salinas, MIGIZI Communications, Inc. Duke Gomez-Schempp, People's Press Project Christopher Mitchell, Institute for Local Self Reliance Chaka Mkali, HOPE Community Development Corporation Erick Boustead, Line Break Media

You might also like