AT&T and Time Warner: why we need to stop this Media Goliath now

We must ACT NOW to stop the AT&T and Time Warner merger, and its deeply concerning consequences for the open Internet

One of America’s top media giants is gorging itself on the prospects of unmatched power — AT&T is aiming to absorb Time Warner in a massive $85 billion dollar merger, which will give the corporation unprecedented control over TV, print, and Internet content.

This is far from the first time this beast of a company has caused anti-customer stir. AT&T recently pushed through new zero-rating plans, stomping through the fair-play values of the online arena by giving their customers access to some free services, while making other services they don’t like more expensive — basically picking winners and losers online. In the words of a journalist with the Verge, with this move, AT&T has “declared war on an open Internet (and us).”

When it comes to their proposed merger with Time Warner, AT&T comes to the war-front backed by a team of 100 high-powered lobbyists, and a long-term track record as one of the biggest donors to members of the U.S. Congress. Not to mention its cushy relationship with the NSA, and Hemisphere, a warrantless spying program that AT&T built especially for law enforcement customers, selling it at a cost of millions of dollars per year to taxpayers.

This telecom monster will grow beyond all reason if we allow them to gobble up Time Warner  --  this way, they would control CNN, HBO, TBS, DC Comics and movie franchises like Harry Potter and Batman. We can’t let AT&T seize control of the largest satellite-TV provider, mobile and wired internet access, many major cable channels, and much more (even a film studio!).They’ll reign supreme over everything we see, hear, and do. This is a move so catastrophic that even Trump was initially against it.

We must stop this media Goliath NOW. And this is URGENT -- the Senate hearing on the merger is coming up in just FIVE DAYS!

OpenMedia has put together a tool that targets committee members, but we need you to add your voice! If enough people speak out now against the merger, then the Senate's antitrust oversight committee will be pressured to recommend the merger not be allowed to go through.

Already, a coalition of digital and media rights organizations (including OpenMedia) have signed a letter urging an end to this monstrous deal. Already, we’ve had over 7000 people use our tool -- just hours after it launched!

We’ve got five days, and we’ve got you, our tireless supporters. The Internet needs us, and luckily we’re not afraid to stand up to corporate ghouls. First speak up now to send a message to the Senate, then share this campaign widely on Facebook and Twitter— the more people who get involved, the better our chance to win!