Why The AT&T/T-Mobile Merger Should Not Come To Pass

Even though the growth of the modern mobile computing market is moving at whirlwind speed, one of the main reasons why it didn't happen earlier was because of the control that conservative wireless carriers exerted over devices running on their networks. Should AT&T be allowed to acquire T-Mobile, wireless carriers will get even further control over the distribution and makeup of the hardware and software that is changing the way we interact with computers, and they'll likely charge us more for the privilege.

There’s really nothing else to conclude following a week in which AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson attempted to convince an incredulous Congressman that his company didn't compete with T-Mobile, which AT&T has proposed to acquire for $39 billion, despite the fact that AT&T lists T-Mobile on a Web site dedicated to evangelizing the deal in a section called “Know The Facts: Competitive Landscape.” When you’re reducing to making those kinds of arguments in hopes of convincing the skeptics, it’s a sure sign that you’re low on ammunition. The last thing the mobile industry needs just as all the pieces start to fall into place is a narrowing of the choices for how these fabulous devices and applications will connect to the Internet. And the federal government should consider this deal very carefully, because if it is allowed to pass, the net neutrality debate over whether wireless Internet providers should be subject to those rules will triple in magnitude.