The smartphone service telecomm industry is dominated by two players -- AT&T and Verizon -- controlling about 70% of the market. In fact, these two giants have increased market share over their smaller competitors in recent years, which means higher prices for the consumer due to less competition.
Typical of monopolies, when AT&T raise their prices on certain services, Verizon is not too far behind doing the same. The result is they are not competing against one another.
AT&T and Verizon are fearless in extracting as much money as they can from consumers without much choice since the federal regulators have abandoned their role in policing the market.
Americans pay some of the highest mobile rates in world according to the OECD.
Enforce the anti-trust laws to protect consumers.