Senate Dems urge regulators to block T-Mobile, Sprint deal

A group of eight senators on Tuesday sent lengthy letters to the Federal Communications Commission and Department of Justice (DOJ) spelling out the reasons why they want regulators to reject the proposed $26 billion merger between T-Mobile and Sprint.

The senators sent the 6,000-word letters one day before the House Judiciary and Energy and Commerce committees are set to hold hearings examining the proposed merger, which has divided Democrats and aggravated antitrust advocates.

The letters raise concerns that the merger, which would combine two of the nation’s four largest mobile carriers, could harm consumers and workers by decreasing competition and creating higher costs for customers.

“For more than 30 years, our enforcers have understood that fostering robust competition in telecommunications markets is the best way to provide every American with access to high-quality, cutting-edge communications at a reasonable price,” the senators wrote. “This merger will turn the clock back, returning Americans to the dark days of heavily consolidated markets and less competition, with all of the resulting harms.

The initiative was led by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), a member of the Senate Commerce committee.

Four of the eight senators who signed onto the letter have announced 2020 Democratic presidential bids – Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) – while two have said they are eyeing bids – Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio). The other signatories are Senate Commerce Committee members Sens. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.).