Lawmakers are voicing opposing views on the competitive effects of wireless giant AT&T’s latest marketing strategy, which implements a sponsored data program for customers to access Internet, courtesy of those sponsors.
Reports say House Representative Anna Eshoo (D-CA) slammed the deal, arguing it places the company “in the business of picking winners and losers on the Internet, threatening the open Internet, competition and consumer choice.”
The program, which at face-value appears like a deal for consumers, has “serious implications for fairness and competition in the mobile marketplace,” Representative Eshoo said, who also expressed concern that such a business model would actually place higher costs on consumers in the long-run.
But Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) argues “businesses shouldn’t have to ask the FCC for permission to provide good services consumers demand in our dynamic and competitive environment for cell service.” Blackburn serves as the House Commerce Committee vice-chair.
Full Content: The Hill
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
Senate Democrats Urge DOJ Investigation into Alleged Big Oil Collusion
May 30, 2024 by
CPI
ConocoPhillips Acquires Marathon Oil for $22.5 Billion in Major Energy Sector Consolidation
May 29, 2024 by
CPI
Judge Denies Amazon’s Bid to Dismiss FTC Lawsuit Over Prime Membership Practices
May 29, 2024 by
CPI
Germany and France Advocate for Major EU Competition Reform
May 29, 2024 by
CPI
Equifax Accused of Monopolizing Employment Verification Market in New Suit
May 29, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Merger Guidelines Retrospective
May 21, 2024 by
CPI
Mergers of Complements
May 21, 2024 by
CPI
Personality Traits, Private Equity, and Merger Analysis
May 21, 2024 by
CPI
The 2023 Merger Guidelines: Lessons in the Importance of Incipiency, Modern Economics, and Monopsony
May 21, 2024 by
CPI
The 2023 Merger Guidelines: Sharpening Merger Analysis
May 21, 2024 by
CPI