Statement from ColorofChange.org Executive Director Rashad Robinson on the Department of Justice announcement that it will sue to block the AT&T/T-Mobile Merger:

“The Justice Department made the right decision today in filing suit to block AT&T’s $39 billion merger with T-Mobile USA on grounds that it would harm consumers.

“The merger would mean less overall investment in broadband networks, which would hurt jobs and technological innovation, while raising the price of wireless services for everyone. ColorOfChange has actively opposed the merger due to its especially harmful impact on consumers in poor and African-American communities, who disproportionately rely on mobile broadband as their primary means of getting online. The proposed merger would mean a threat to Internet freedom, higher prices, and economic pain for the communities we serve.

“The merger would threaten net neutrality for wireless high-speed Internet. Without competition from other wireless carriers or effective regulation by the FCC, AT&T and Verizon — net neutrality opponents who would together control nearly 80% of the wireless market — would have an unacceptable level of control over what we can and can’t access on the mobile web.

“We’re thrilled that the Department of Justice has recognized the danger of this merger and is taking action to block it.”