FCC approves Verizon-Alltel merger
In a 5-0 vote, the FCC approved the $28 billion purchase of Alltel by Verizon Wireless. The approval requires Verizon Wireless to end operations in five other small markets neighboring those already required by the Justice Department. It also requires Verizon to honor Alltel’s existing roaming agreements with small wireless carriers for four years. With DOJ and now FCC approval in the bag, Verizon can complete the acquisition of Alltel to become the largest wireless carrier in the US. What do you guys think – good news?
Thanks go to Ryan for sending this in!
Now are the ALLtell Commercials gone???
DAMN YOU CHAD!!!!!!!
Could this possibly mean that Verizon will get new Blackberries sooner instead of letting AT&T get them first (ex: Javelin/Niagara)? Thanks.
Sweet. Not like it affects me in any good way, you know moneywise. But a good firm backhand to at&t always makes the day brighter.
I still want to see them doing something fun with the Verizon Network guy and Chad. You know, either something dark like kill him off (the red-head from the Alltel commercials that plays the Verizon brand, stabs him with a Razr), or something light where the real Verizon Network Guy hugs Chad and hands him a Blackberry Storm. And then the Verizon guy can say: “Welcome to MY circle”.
Who knows, it’d be fun to see them do something neat.
Finally. I live in Michigan and Alltell is heavy in northern Michigan and especially the Upper peninsula, hopefully this meens my VZW service will improve up there.
I’m mostly curious to see what will happen to all of the agent locations that see alltel. My company is one of those, and I’m wondering if they will just transition to selling Verizon services or if there will be a renegotiation between Big Red and the agents.
*SELL alltel…
Sorry.
Nothing better than making big red bigger and better.
Hmmm I wonder if that means us Alltel Customers will be able to upgrade to a new verizon phone and contract? Or will we have to finish off our current one?
Wow! This means that VZW will finally get a sponsored car in NASCAR! Git er done!
who cares sprint for life
i know how the alltel/chad commercials play out. the verizon guy will get a girl who will be verizon girl and chad will steal her and secretly elope!
@rokker
i doubt it, you might have to change to the equivalent vzw plan you will more than likely have the same phone
Say good bye to my circle.
Fuck you FCC do your job
This worries me.. Why can’t the FCC do their job, ever?
Verizon sucks….they rape all their phones of their freedom.
VZW has had many mergers in their brief history and priceplans have almost always been grandfathered over. In general, all of the previous mergers were seamless. VZW IT leadership is best in class and their track record in billing conversions is second to none. No reason to predict otherwise in this case.
About Alltel customers and current contracts, you will most likely be grandfathered in with your same contract. However, any device change whether you choose to upgrade or break current phone you will more than likely have to switch to a Verizon contract.
This is just speculation from when I had SunCom and it was bought out by Cingular.
great job FCC..
Obama’s in! yay on behalf of the rest of the world from Australia!
Suncom was just purchased by Tmobile?? Guess Cingular didn’t like it and gave it backm.
Now since Verizion will be reclaimming the #1 position where does that leave ATT. I daubt there is much chance for ATT to reclaim it With Alltell out of the picture it doesn’t leave much for ATT to purchase. The only way ATT can gain large numbers of new customers now will be to take customers from the other service provider by offering customers beter phones or services then the competition. Sorry ATT, you having exclusive rights to sell the Iphone isn’t nearly good enough to make that happen.
As a spouse of an Alltel employee for 10 years, I’ll be sad to see them go. They have consistently improved their service and technology over the years and have always treated our family very well. Plus Chad is a great guy. We’ll miss seeing him around…
So… any recommendations where to move our service? We’re not really excited about moving to “Darth Verizon”
This was the last hurdle so I’m glad to see it finally came around.
@ Jrudd lmao and I also want to see what happens to the AT&T (largest carrier) commercials.