The Verizon/Alltel thing wasn't so long ago and they still required them to sell one network or they other off in lots of areas. Some of them were in Michigan and I remember it being a big deal. Some Alltel customers were sold to Verizon, some were sold to AT&T and in some markets Verizon sold off their own customers and kept the Alltel network because it was superior in that area.
Excellent example of the consumer LOSING!
We were part of that issue. Alltel coverage was GREAT, Verizon was told to shut down some of the Alltel towers, and we lost our consistent coverage.
Granted, this is not a thread about phones, but it IS a great example of the consumer losing out to "bigger is better" which seems to be the way of our government of late.
Then there's the "we'll buy your debt" issue, (again, just like the radio industry.) There comes a point in which mergers where debt is acquired (along with the "positive things) that the acquired debt combined with existing debt creates a "new" debt so large that it cannot be properly serviced via normal business operations and the "system" starts to crumble.
I'm not a subscriber to either service and I still hope it does NOT occur. We're becoming a "one size fits all" country...and it DOESN'T! Radio's doing it too, with
consolidated playlists, regional management, and less local involvement.
Fingers crossed for this to never occur for the sake of competition being GOOD for consumers and our economic system.