Before the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, DC 20554 Applications of TEGNA Inc., for Transfer of Control to Standard General, L.P. MB Docket 22-162 Comments of the American Consumer Institute The American Consumer Institute Center for Citizen Research (ACI) is a nonprofit (501c3) educational and research institute with the mission to identify, analyze and project the […]
merger
Antitrust Case Could Cause Turbulence for Consumers
In 2020, JetBlue and American Airlines announced the creation of a strategic partnership in the Northeast of the United States. The partnership, dubbed the Northeast Alliance (NEA), intended to create seamless connectivity for travelers in the Northeast and more choice for customers across their complimentary domestic and international networks.” Under the terms of the deal, […]
Can JetBlue’s Deal with Spirit Increase Competition and Consumer Benefits?
JetBlue Airlines made an unexpected $3.6 Billion bid to purchase Spirit Airlines this week, in a move that, some believe, could bring welcome competition to the airline industry and benefit consumers. The airline industry has come a long way since the days of public ownership. Following the passage of the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, […]
Proposed Merger Could Mean Promising Benefits for Consumers
On February 7th, 2022, two of America’s largest low-cost airlines, Frontier and Spirit, announced a planned merger estimated to be worth around $6.6 billion. While the merger would create the fifth largest airline in the country, the deal could meet significant scrutiny from the Department of Justice’s (DoJ) Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission […]
Consumer Impact Must Remain the Focus for Mergers and Acquisitions
It seems that each week, self-proclaimed trustbusters on Capitol Hill line up to attack big tech for alleged antitrust violations. Back in the firing line this week is Amazon after the company announced it was purchasing Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Studios for $8.45 billion. If the deal goes ahead, it would be the “second-largest acquisition in Amazon’s […]
ACI Joins Coaltion Letter to Congress
Today, ACI joined a coalition of think tanks calling for approval of the T-Mobile/Sprint merger. The letter finds the transaction would increase competition, thereby producing consumer benefits. The letter is available online.
DOJ’s Appeal Belongs on HissyFit.Rant
DOJ submitted an appeal of the AT&T-Time Warner merger approved by Judge Leon of the US District Court for the DC Circuit. The submission asks the appeals court to reverse Judge Leon on the basis that he could not have understood DOJ’s arguments, otherwise he would not have approved the merger. DOJ claims the intellectual high […]
Forbes: AT&T Merger — Let Consumers Choose
Many observers welcome AT&T’s proposed merger. A few do not, including the Department of Justice (DOJ). This Forbes commentary tells why the DOJ should just let consumers choose among market rivals and content.
Three Cheers for Amazon’s Purchase of Whole Foods
Walmart’s income statement for 2016 showed $486 billion in sales through its 11,695 stores, clubs and affiliates. Costco’s 2016 income statement showed $119 billion in sales through 715 warehouses. Kroger’s 2016 sales were $115 billion through almost 4,000 stores. The merged Amazon and Whole Foods grocery sales for 2017 are estimated at $151 billion through […]
ACI in Real Clear Markets: Time Warner Deal is Good for Consumers and Innovation
Mergers often raise antitrust concerns. This is particularly the case when direct competitors combine to form a much larger company – referred to as a horizontal merger. Because these sorts of mergers eliminate competitors and consumer choice, they can lead to a significant increase in market concentration and pose anticompetitive risks. At its core, regulatory […]