US probe into Verizon’s might

THE US Justice Department has begun a review of big telecom firms such as AT&T and Verizon, to determine if they have abused their market power.

Sources close to the matter said that the Antitrust Division’s probe could concern exclusive agreements between phone companies and handset makers or whether phone operators are “unduly restricting” services third parties companies can offer on their network. AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel said he was not aware of any formal probe, but declined to comment on any informal proceedings.