“Consumer advocates fear losing AT&T’s voice”

USAToday reviews a story that most of the media won’t touch: how the purchase of AT&T and MCI by regional Bell companies not only means a loss of competition (isn’t buying up your competition a dandy “competitive” strategy?) but almost as importantly means a loss of any large corporate voice fighting for competition and against the increasing deregulation of the baby bells’ regional monopolies.

The story is a great read. AT&T’s battles to enable competition were at the heart of the regulatory competition that led to the CLEC phenomena and the too-brief period of competition that made so many people and businesses customers of companies like AT&T and EATEL. Its loss before the FCC is what eliminated that competition and led to its withdrawal from the market.

From the story:

Over time, AT&T racked up court victories that fed competition. New entrants, clinging to AT&T like pilot fish trailing a shark, raced to enter the market. Consumers gained a choice of local carriers. Some also saw their phone bills drop. And AT&T built a sterling reputation for standing up for the little guy.

…consumer advocates are nervous. Their biggest fear: that the anti-Bell position, which AT&T promoted for two decades, will now get scant attention. That change, they say, could empower the Bells to flatten the opposition — and consumers — in the legal and political arenas.

113 thoughts on ““Consumer advocates fear losing AT&T’s voice””

  25. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across.

  44. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. Onwin , Onwin Giriş onwin

  50. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across.

  61. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across.

  77. Thank you for great content. Hello Administ. Websiteye Giriş için Tıklayın. a href=”https://cutt.ly/SahabetSosyal/” title=”Sahabet” rel=”dofollow”>Sahabet

  79. After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader. Onwin Giriş için Tıklayın onwin

  82. After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader. Websiteye Giriş için Tıklayın. a href=”https://cutt.ly/SahabetSosyal/” title=”Sahabet” rel=”dofollow”>Sahabet

  85. Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Websiteye Giriş için Tıklayın. a href=”https://cutt.ly/SahabetSosyal/” title=”Sahabet” rel=”dofollow”>Sahabet

  87. I really love to read such an excellent article. Helpful article. Hello Administ . Websiteye Giriş için Tıklayın. a href=”https://cutt.ly/SahabetSosyal/” title=”Sahabet” rel=”dofollow”>Sahabet

  88. Thank you great post. Hello Administ .Websiteye Giriş için Tıklayın. a href=”https://cutt.ly/SahabetSosyal/” title=”Sahabet” rel=”dofollow”>Sahabet

  91. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. Website Giriş için Tıklayın. Starzbet