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July 7, 2009

Justice Dept. Probes Wireless Carriers
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The Justice Department has opened a preliminary probe into whether large
U.S. telecommunications corporations are abusing their market power.
According to the Wall Street Journal, investigators will look at whether
firms are unfairly blocking users from such services such as the
internet calling program Skype. The probe will also focus on whether
wireless giants such as AT&T and Verizon are stifling competition
through exclusive deals with handset makers. On Monday, the chair of
Senate Judiciary Committee’s antitrust subcommittee, Democratic Senator
Herb Kohl, publicly called for an federal anti-trust probe of the
wireless industry.



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