Verizon and AT&T dispute claims they collaborated to raise texting rates

Reuters is reporting that AT&T and Verizon are fighting claims made by U.S. lawmakers that they worked together to set artificially high prices for text messages. The companies say that text message price hikes made last year affect only 1 percent of sent messages because most consumers have text message bundle plans.

Sen. Herb Kohl, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee's antitrust subcommittee, said he was concerned that the four major U.S. carriers collaborated to raise the price of sending a text message from $0.10 to $0.20. He asked if there is a lack of competition in the cellular market that drove the price hikes. The major carriers said that evidence shows "fierce competition" in the market.