The attorneys general taking part in this request to the FCC include those from Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. The group is led by Virginia’s Mark Herring. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said, “We urge the FCC to put the interest of the American consumer before that of big business and request additional information before allowing this acquisition to happen.”
The FCC is in the midst of undergoing a change with the arrival of the Biden administration. Under former FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, picked to be chairman under Donald Trump, the agency often favored the carriers over consumers. With acting chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, a Democrat, now at the helm, we could see a reversal including the return of net neutrality.
TracFone offers wireless service to 1.7 million low-income Americans in 43 states and the D.C. under the subsidized Lifeline program. Verizon offer such service in four states and said that it “will continue to offer Lifeline service through TracFone and further develop its core brands, products and distribution channels. Strengthening and growing TracFone will benefit value-conscious consumers.”
