Today, AAI issued a commentary on the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) recent move to block the proposed merger of AT&T and Time Warner. AAI applauds the government’s decision. It reflects sound enforcement of Section 7 of the Clayton Act in an area of merger control that has been of concern to many policymakers for years. The government has laid out a strong case for how the merger could potentially harm the competitive process and consumers. And contrary to some claims, the DOJ’s move to block the merger is supported by a long-standing record of enforcement on vertical mergers.
This commentary highlights this record and a number of other important issues for competition enforcement and policy. These include the reality that as antitrust enforcement moves forward, it reflects past experience, evidence, and learning. The commentary also takes up the question of what AT&T-Time Warner may mean for future merger enforcement.
