Jan 7, 2019

Rural carriers, progressive group oppose Sprint/T-Mobile merger

The chief executives of T-Mobile and Sprint. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Rural internet providers and the progressive group Demand Progress Education Fund have joined a coalition trying to quash T-Mobile's proposed purchase of Sprint.

Why it matters: The deal remains under review by the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice.

Details:

  • New members of the 4Competition Coalition include United Wireless Communications, in Kansas; Indigo Wireless, in Pennsylvania; the American Antitrust Institute; Demand Progress Education Fund; and the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association.
  • The coalition launched earlier this year with members from progressive politics as well as competitors to T-Mobile and Sprint, like DISH Networks and the rural carriers.
  • Critics of the deal say that going from four to three national wireless carriers will hurt consumers. The companies say it will help them better roll out next-generation wireless technology.

The big picture: The deal remains under review but, so far, it’s unclear whether there’s any momentum among regulators to stop it.

Go deeper

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 3 p.m. ET: 5,931,112 — Total deaths: 357,929 — Total recoveries — 2,388,172 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 3 p.m. ET: 1,711,313 — Total deaths: 101,129 — Total recoveries: 391,508 — Total tested: 15,192,481 — Map.
  3. States: New York to allow private businesses to deny entry to customers without masks.
  4. Public health: Louisiana Sen. Cassidy wants more frequent testing of nursing home workers.
  5. Congress: Pelosi slams McConnell on stimulus delay — Sen. Tim Kaine and wife test positive for coronavirus antibodies.
  6. Tech: Twitter fact-checks Chinese official's claims that coronavirus originated in U.S.
  7. What should I do? When you can be around others after contracting the coronavirus — Traveling, asthma, dishes, disinfectants and being contagious — Masks, lending books and self-isolating — Exercise, laundry, what counts as soap — Pets, moving and personal health — Answers about the virus from Axios experts — What to know about social distancing — How to minimize your risk.
  8. Other resources: CDC on how to avoid the virus, what to do if you get it, the right mask to wear.

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Updated 17 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Twitter fact-checks Chinese official's claims that coronavirus originated in U.S.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian. Photo: Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images

Twitter slapped a fact-check label on a pair of months-old tweets from a Chinese government spokesperson that falsely suggested that the coronavirus originated in the U.S. and was brought to Wuhan by the U.S. military, directing users to "get the facts about COVID-19."

Why it matters: The labels were added after criticism that Twitter had fact-checked tweets from President Trump about mail-in voting, but not other false claims from Chinese Communist Party officials and other U.S. adversaries.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow2 hours ago - Technology

Podcast: Trump vs. Twitter, round two

President Trump is escalating his response to Twitter’s fact check of his recent tweets about mail-in voting, issuing an executive order that's designed to begin limiting social media's liability protections. Dan digs in with Axios' Margaret Harding McGill.

Go deeper: Twitter vs. Trump... vs. Twitter

2 hours ago - Politics & Policy