You might have thought they would do it and on Monday they did. Sprint formally announced its opposition to AT&T’s takeover of T-Mobile in the U.S.

[ad#Google Adsense 300×250 in story]Sprint said in a statement that “would reverse nearly three decades of actions by the U.S. government and the courts that modernized and opened U.S. communications markets to competition.” The company also said that the levels competition, job creation and investment could all be undone if the proposed merger is allowed to proceed.

AT&T said on March 20 that it had agreed to purchase T-Mobile for an estimated $39 billion.

“Sprint urges the United States government to block this anti-competitive acquisition,” said Vonya McCann, senior vice president, Government Affairs. “This transaction will harm consumers and harm competition at a time when this country can least afford it. As the first national carrier to roll out 4G services and handsets and the carrier that brought simple unlimited pricing to the marketplace, Sprint stands ready to compete in a truly dynamic marketplace. So on behalf of our customers, our industry and our country, Sprint will fight this attempt by AT&T to undo the progress of the past 25 years and create a new Ma Bell duopoly.”