Re: AT&T buys DirecTv
 

Yes, it means that AT&T will have monopolies in some places since it bought the competition. In the grand scheme of things AT&T did not come in at 1st place in any of its offerings.

Television - DirectTv wins hands down for price, channels, clarity, and hardware.
Internet - Cable providers own this category for speed and reliability. AT&T invested in DSL and its is inferior technology.
Home Phone - Again AT&T loses to most cable companies because if the cable modem capabilities.

I have AT&T cell phones because that is my work carrier. Historically AT&T customer service is horrible. I left them and went to Cingular, when they bought Cingular, I left them again.

When Bell was broken up because of the monopoly Southwestern Bell was a division, which turned into AT&T and it looks like the monopoly is forming again.