Tom Struble, technology policy manager and counsel with R Street Institute, a think tank that promotes free markets and limited government, said that mergers, particularly vertical mergers, are often good for consumers and not worthy of excessive regulatory scrutiny unless they present a clear harm.

“Vertically integrated firms are good for consumers, generally speaking, even if they harm competition — which they do,” Struble said in a Wednesday phone interview. “But you’ve got to balance harms to competition in one market against gains and benefits to consumers and competition in another market, and only if the harms outweigh the benefits do you bring an enforcement action.”

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