patrick.net

Despite millions of dollars in lobbying and an unholy anti-consumer alliance with the Communication Workers of America, the case for the merger isn't getting past the US Justice Department and the FCC.

At least for now.

"A decision to dismiss or delay the Justice Department’s case would put the deal all but out of reach for AT&T. The company’s strategy for regulatory approval rests on winning a favorable court decision it could use at the FCC to argue that the transaction isn’t anticompetitive. Without such a ruling, AT&T has no chance of getting the deal done, T-Mobile’s lawyer, George Cary, told Huvelle at a hearing yesterday."

"“If this case doesn’t go ahead, then the deal is over,” he said. "

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-09/at-t-hearings-begin-on-status-of-u-s-sprint-cases-on-t-mobile.html