Source: http://www.justice.gov/atr/cases/f233900/233928.htm
Timestamp: 2014-11-01 09:51:54
Document Index: 100934058

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 25', '§ 18', '§ 26', '§ 18', '§ 25', '§ 1331']

Complaint : U.S. and State of Vermont v. Verizon Communications Inc. and Rural Cellular Corporation
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Department of Justice, Antitrust Division 1401 H Street, N.W., Suite 8000 Washington, D.C. 20530, and STATE OF VERMONT, Office of the Vermont Attorney General 109 State Street Montpelier, Vermont 05609-1001 Plaintiffs, v. VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC. 140 West Street New York, New York 1007 and RURAL CELLULAR CORPORATION 3905 Dakota Street SW Alexandria, Minnesota 56308, Defendants. |
| Civil No. 1:08-cv-00993(EGS) Judge Emmet G. Sullivan Filed: June 10, 2008 COMPLAINT The United States of America, acting under the direction of the Attorney General of the United States, and the State of Vermont, by its Attorney General William H. Sorrell, bring this civil action to enjoin the merger of two mobile wireless telecommunications services providers, Verizon Communications Inc. ("Verizon") and Rural Cellular Corporation ("RCC"), and to obtain other relief as appropriate. Plaintiffs allege as follows: 1. Verizon entered into an agreement to acquire RCC, dated July 29, 2007, under which the two companies would combine their mobile wireless telecommunications services businesses ("Transaction Agreement"). Plaintiffs seek to enjoin this transaction because it likely will substantially lessen competition to provide mobile wireless telecommunications services in several geographic markets where Verizon and RCC are each other's most significant competitor. 2. Verizon's mobile wireless telecommunications services network covers 263 million people in 49 states and serves in excess of 65 million subscribers. RCC provides mobile wireless telecommunications services in 15 states and serves approximately 790,000 subscribers. The combination of Verizon and RCC likely will substantially lessen competition for mobile wireless telecommunications services throughout Vermont, one geographic area in New York that is contiguous to Vermont, and in northeast Washington, where both Verizon and RCC currently operate. As a result of the proposed acquisition, residents of these areas will likely face increased prices, diminished quality or quantity of services, and less investment in network improvements for these services. I. JURISDICTION AND VENUE 3. This Complaint is filed by the United States under Section 15 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. § 25, to prevent and restrain defendants from violating Section 7 of the Clayton Act, as amended, 15 U.S.C. § 18. Plaintiff Vermont, by and through its Attorney General, brings this action in its sovereign capacity and as parens patriae on behalf of the citizens, general welfare, and economy of the State of Vermont under Section 16 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. § 26, to prevent defendants from violating Section 7 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. § 18. 4. Verizon and RCC are engaged in interstate commerce and in activities substantially affecting interstate commerce. The Court has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to Sections 15 and 16 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 25 and 26, and 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1337. 5. The defendants have consented to personal jurisdiction and venue in this judicial district. II. THE DEFENDANTS AND THE TRANSACTION 6. Verizon, with headquarters in New York, is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware. Verizon is one of the world's largest providers of communications services. Verizon is the second largest mobile wireless telecommunications services provider in the United States as measured by subscribers, provides mobile wireless telecommunications services in 49 states, and serves in excess of 65 million subscribers. In 2007, Verizon earned mobile wireless telecommunications services revenues of approximately $43 billion. 7. RCC, with headquarters in Alexandria, Minnesota, is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Minnesota. RCC is the 10th largest mobile wireless telecommunications services provider in the United States a