N.D. suing to block Verizon merger

BISMARCK (AP) — Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem says North Dakota is among seven states that have sued to block the merger of Verizon Wireless and Alltel Corp. in a $28 billion deal that would create the nation’s largest wireless carrier.

Justice Department law-yers joined the seven states in a lawsuit filed Thursday to block the merger, but also filed a proposed settlement that would require Verizon Wireless to divest assets in 100 markets, including holdings in the entire states of North Dakota and South Dakota and large portions of Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Montana, South Carolina, Utah and Wyoming.

Without that action, the Justice Department said, the deal would hurt competition, drive up consumer prices and likely produce a lower-quality network.

Tags: cell phone, merger, verizon, alltel