S. Derek Turner

Free Press Statement on Court Decision to Stay AT&T/T-Mobile Case

Jenn Ettinger — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:54:23 -0500

WASHINGTON – On Monday, AT&T and the Department of Justice jointly requested to stay further court proceedings on the AT&T-T-Mobile merger, which was granted by the court.

Free Press Research Director S. Derek Turner made the following statement:

AT&T Fires Back at FCC over Report

Lindsy Embree — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 11:50:22 -0500

Full article: Politico
Kim Hart
AT&T fired back at the FCC, calling the staff report outlining objections to the AT&T/T-Mobile deal an "advocacy piece" that is "so obviously one-sided" that it did not give the deal a fair shake.

Free Press: AT&T’s Whining Doesn’t Change the Facts

Jenn Ettinger — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 11:48:16 -0500

On Thursday, AT&T responded to the Federal Communications Commission’s staff report on the proposed T-Mobile takeover, calling the report unfair and one-sided.

Free Press Slams Sprint Decisions to Cap Tethering, Raise Early Termination Fees

Jenn Ettinger — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 12:40:54 -0400

WASHINGTON -- On Thursday, Free Press responded to reports that Sprint, the nation’s third-largest wireless carrier, would begin capping its “tethering” plans which allow subscribers to use their phones as mobile hotspots. The plans come with a 5 gigabyte data limit, and a new $0.05 charge per megabyte over the cap — which adds up to $50 per extra gigabyte.

Democrats Call for Obama to Approve T-Mobile Acquisition

Lindsy Embree — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 10:41:00 -0400

Full article: Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Nick Eaton
A group of 16 House Democrats is calling for President Obama to direct the Department of Justice to approve AT&T's proposed acquisition of Bellevue-based T-Mobile USA. To any objective eyes, Shuler's letter plainly echoes AT&T's major talking points, including the job-creation study and a pledge to deliver 4G wireless service to 97 percent of Americans. In response, consumer group Free Press wrote that 10 of the 16 Democrats have collectively received more than $445,000 in campaign contributions from AT&T.

Free Press Action Fund: Shuler Letter Repeats AT&T's Falsehoods

Jenn Ettinger — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:41:20 -0400

WASHINGTON -- Today Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging the president to seek a settlement to the Department of Justice's antitrust lawsuit to block the $39 billion merger between AT&T and T-Mobile.

Wireless Data Plans Put Spotlight on FCC Billing Protection

Lindsy Embree — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 11:00:11 -0400

Full article: Washington Post
Cecilia Kang
As wireless companies introduce new, and sometimes confusing, service plans, expect pressure on the FCC to better protect consumers from false and misleading billing practices, analysts say.

New Jobs Study Confirms AT&T–T-Mobile Merger Would Put Thousands on the Unemployment Line

Jenn Ettinger — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 13:03:14 -0400

WASHINGTON -- In the wake of the Department of Justice’s lawsuit to block the AT&T–T-Mobile merger, Charles River Associates today released a study of the impact the merger would have on jobs. The study confirmed Free Press’ assertion that combining AT&T and T-Mobile would kill thousands of American jobs.

Consumer Groups Cheer DoJ's Move to Block AT&T Acquisition

Stevie Converse — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 09:18:59 -0400

Full article: TechWorld
Grant Gross
Several consumer and digital rights groups applauded the Department of Justice's opposition to AT&T's proposed acquisition of rival mobile carrier T-Mobile, with critics of the deal saying it would have hurt consumers. Even after AT&T spent millions of dollars to lobby in favor of the deal, the DOJ filed a lawsuit opposing the proposed $39 billion acquisition.

DOJ Sues to Block AT&T's Merger with T-Mobile

Stevie Converse — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 09:08:46 -0400

Full article: Media Post
Wendy Davis
In a move hailed by broadband advocates, the Department of Justice moved to block AT&T's planned $39 billion merger with T-Mobile. The FCC is independently reviewing AT&T's proposed buyout of T-Mobile. That agency can attempt to block the merger regardless of how the court rules on the DOJ's antitrust complaint.