By: Nebr Boy

Nebr Boy — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:21:35 +0000

I foresee this as another FCC rubber-stamp without any regards for the consumer. Here’s what happened when Alltel purchased CellularOne two years ago in our area:
The FCC said that in area where Alltel and CellOne directly compete, Alltel had to sell it’s newly acquired CellOne properties to a new competitor, which turned out to be US Cellular.
In my personal case, living in a Nebr town close to the South Dakota border, Alltel has terrible coverage in our town, but CellularOne was great and had service all the way to the Canadian border. So with the merger, my contract was sold to US Cellular as well as the spectrum and CellularOne towers, etc.
The next thing I know, US Cellular does not honor my Cellular One plan, which I was still under contract. My monthly cost rose $5-$10. Ok. I’m not happy but can live with that.
But since US Cellular One has no spectrum in So Dakota, now all of a sudden when I drive 15 miles from home and near the SD border, I’m roaming. So previously when I had Cellular One with 5-state home area, NOW I’m roaming when I travel 15 miles from home. So to get the same plan and calling area coverage as when I had CellularOne, I have to take US Cellular’s NATIONAL plan, an increase of about $30 per month. (Oh yeah- this merger is good for the consumer! – NOT)
No amount of researching different plans and options with US Cellular CSRs and their supervisors could come up with a better solution.
Bottom line: The merger was terrible for any consumer living in certain border situations…and there’s lots of us.
IF the FCC rubber-stamps this new merger, expect customers to howl, but no one’s gonna listen!
What ever happened to the anti-trust laws? Do they only apply to landline phone companies?
In the past the FCC has turned a blind eye and has given the cellular companies anything and everything they’ve ever asked for. It’s time the FCC pulls its head out of the sand.

Comments on: Alltel Acquisition by Verizon is Official

By: Nebr Boy