But many customers aren't buying into that prospect, calling this latest telecom megamerger a threat to the spirit of increased competition promised with the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
Smaller companies provide more service to customers.
Bigger is not better. The greater their footprint, the greater their ability to undermine competition. This dominance stunts local competition, he and others maintain, since most market entrants must lease capacity from the Bells to offer competing services, and the Bells have been less than forthcoming. The Bells have done a remarkable job of keeping the lid on competition at home, and as a result, we're nowhere with local competition. SBC is promising to offer local residential and long-distance services in 30 cities outside its territory, including Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington.