U.S. files to block AT&T deal for T-Mobile

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration on Wednesday filed to block AT&T's proposed $39 billion acquisition of wireless rival T-Mobile USA because of anti-competitive concerns.

The Justice Department said the acquisition would "remove a significant competitive force" with AT&T and T-Mobile competing in at least 97 of the top 100 U.S. wireless markets, according to court papers obtained by Reuters.

Ummm excuse me what? Do you know how many wireless providers there are? How in the hell is this anti-competitive?

Here is a list:

National & Regional Carriers
Alltel Wireless (purchaed by Verizon but still operating as Alltel in some Locations)
At&T
CellularOne
Sprint Nextel Corporation
T-Mobile
US Cellular
Verizon Wireless

Specialty Carriers
DigiTel
Edge Wireless
Helio
NTELOS Wireless
Qwest
SoutherLINC Wireless
SureWest

Pre-Paid Only Carriers

Alltel Wireless U
AT&T Go
Boost Mobile
Cricket Communications
Liberty Wireless
MetroPCS
Net10
T-Mobile To Go
TracFone


Verizon Wireless INpulse and EasyPAy
Virgin Mobile


Thanks phonedog.com

Now if we dive into this a little further you will find some interesting things and I didn't even include the time when Sprint asked for bailout money from the Obama administration.

Sprint Nextel, Sony, Dell join in Obama electronics recycling effort


Sprint had its hands in this: The new website and service enables users of SMS devices in the Sprint/Nextel and Boost Mobile cellular networks the ability to send Text Messages directly to the Obama Administration.

Or maybe this is the problem: negotiating a possible sale of T-Mobile to Sprint Nextel Corp.....some industry analysts believe the U.S. government would approve this merger.

Couldn't make this up if I tried: Cell-phone company urges: ‘Defeat right-wing radicalism.’