News

Opponents of T-Mobile-Sprint merger gather over 60,000 signatures in opposition

17 Apr, 2019

More than 60,000 Americans registered their opposition to the pending T-Mobile-Sprint merger in a new petition submitted to the Federal Communications Commission by Free Press, Communications Workers of America, Common Cause, Demand Progress Education Fund, and other public interest groups. If approved, the merger would leave the United States with only three nationwide wireless service providers, and would lead to higher prices, less competition, and fewer jobs.

“This merger means fewer jobs and lower wages,” said Debbie Goldman, CWA Research and Policy Director. “CWA’s analysis shows that 30,000 people will lose their jobs as the new T-Mobile closes redundant corporate-owned and authorized dealer stores. The labor market will be flooded with unemployed retail wireless workers seeking jobs, and average annual earnings for those workers still employed will decline by as much as $3,000. Job loss and reduced wages are not in the public interest – it’s clear that the FCC should block this merger.”

Over the last several months, a plethora of consumer groups, tech watchdogs, labor unions, civil rights activists, and telecommunications companies have spoken out against the merger. In addition, dozens of members of Congress and several Democratic candidates for president have registered their opposition to the deal.

Groups gathering petition signatures include Demand Progress Education Fund, Center for Media Justice, Common Cause, Free Press, American Family Voices, Communications Workers of America, Fight for the Future, The Nation, Daily Kos, and more.

Despite claims made by T-Mobile and Sprint executives, this merger would reduce competition, raise prices and kill jobs. It also wouldn’t fulfill their claims of faster 5G deployment and improved rural service. The mega-merger would be particularly harmful to low-income consumers and communities of color.

“T-Mobile doesn’t have us covered,” said Erin Shields, National Field Organizer for Internet Rights at the Center for Media Justice. “Though people of color make up a majority of their customers, this merger with Sprint pulls the rug out from under our communities. Reduced competition will likely mean higher costs for those on lower incomes and force many to choose between feeding their families and keeping them connected. The FCC must step in and block this merger to avoid further exacerbating the digital divide and leaving our communities even more disconnected than they already are.”

Unlike Verizon and AT&T, a significant percentage of Sprint and T-Mobile’s customers are people of color and those with lower incomes, with people of color making up over half of T-Mobile’s customers and nearly half of Sprint’s. The majority of their customers have household incomes of less than $75,000/year, and one third of their prepaid customers make less than $25,000/year.

“With this proposed merger T-Mobile and Sprint have turned their backs on the very customers that made these companies profitable: those in low-income communities and people of color,” said Nilda Muhr, Free Press Campaign Manager. “Don’t believe a thing these company executives say about the benefits of this mega-merger. Combining two competitors means less competition, and less competition means higher prices for those who can least afford the costs of staying connected. Widening the digital divide is never in the public interest. That’s why the FCC must listen to the tens of thousands of Americans speaking out against this deal and reject the T-Mobile-Sprint merger immediately.”