Blocked AT&T Deal Could Axe Return Of 5,000 Outsourced Jobs To OC
ANAHEIM (CBS) — A plan to bring as many as 5,000 AT&T call center jobs back from overseas may be in jeopardy after U.S. Justice Department officials said Wednesday they have filed suit to block $39 billion deal to buy T-Mobile USA.
KNX 1070's Bob McCormick reports AT&T officials said the plan had signaled the largest commitment by an individual American company to bring back jobs to the U.S. since the economic crisis began in 2008.
Podcast
Jobs in Anaheim Hills and Cerritos could be scrapped after the government argued that the acquisition of the No. 4 wireless carrier in the country by No. 2 AT&T would limit competition, lower the availability of quality products and raise prices.
Deputy Attorney General James Cole said the lawsuit seeks to ensure that everyone can continue to receive the benefits of competition.
The lawsuit comes as a California utilities commission said it will consider AT&T's bid to buy wireless licenses from Qualcomm in San Diego along with the proposed T-Mobile merger.
The commitment to bring back jobs that had been outsourced to other countries results from AT&T developing detailed analysis focused specifically on identifying opportunities with the T-Mobile merger to bring back wireless call center jobs, according to AT&T Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Randall Stephenson.
