Of COURSE that's the plan shango, to get AT&T to back out. It's time we tell the FCC what *we* the customers caught in the middle, think. I sent in a letter today (and realized a major typo after I read it in ECFS so yeah, that's embarrassing, but hopefully doesn't detract from the point I made). Here is the form for public comments:
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/upload/display?z=tfmtf
You will need to know the proceeding number you are commenting on. AT&T - Verizon Wireless (the markets divested to AT&T) is proceeding 09-104 . Atlantic Tele-Network - Verizon Wireless is proceeding 09-119.
I'd encourage everyone to file a well-written (PLEASE proofread twice for typos, I thought I had and missed a MAJOR one that ruined the grammar of one of my sentences) comment explaining the consumer benefits of a second national carrier, the disadvantages to numerous, disjointed, local competitors, and perhaps the fact that a lack of CDMA roaming for Sprint should only serve to admonish Sprint for failing to follow the spirit of the build-out requirements attached to their licenses.
Here is my contribution, posted for your reference, but write your own from the heart. As of right now it is only one of two comments from the general public in support of 09-104 - and the other one is very poorly written (makes my "want wait" look like a minor mistake, which in terms of meaning it is - even though it's a major grammatical error):
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020397357
Also, please note that there are *no* public comments on 09-119 - the ATN divestiture. We need to write these comments in support of these transactions people!