CWA: Momentum growing against T-Mobile-Sprint merger, as four additional states join onto state lawsuit

Four additional states have joined the antitrust complaint announced last week by attorneys general from nine states and the District of Columbia seeking to block the proposed T-Mobile-Sprint merger. Attorneys General from Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Nevada have joined the amended state lawsuit, which was the subject of an initial hearing today in federal court.

The following is a statement from Debbie Goldman, Research and Telecommunications Policy Director for the Communications Workers of America (CWA):

Momentum is growing against the proposed T-Mobile-Sprint merger, with four additional states recognizing that merging these two companies would be anti-competitive and harmful to workers, consumers, and communities across America.

The states’ case is strong and their decisive actions are welcome. In the process, these 13 states and the District of Columbia are sending an important signal to reviewers at the U.S. Department of Justice and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) that there are serious competitive and labor market concerns implicated by these mergers.

At an initial hearing at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan federal courthouse in New York today, US District Judge Victor Marrero noted the case raises traditional antitrust questions around market concentration. Both sides recommended a trial date of October 7, with a 2-3 week trial.

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