Enlarge / A T-Mobile logo on the window of a retail store in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014. (credit: Getty Images | Bloomberg)

T-Mobile USA’s proposed acquisition of Sprint would harm competitors and consumers, particularly in rural America, lobby groups for small carriers say.

The Rural Wireless Association (RWA), NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, and other groups filed petitions urging the Federal Communications Commission to block the T-Mobile/Sprint merger this week.

“Removing Sprint from the equation through further industry consolidation will result in less competition which will drive prices higher for consumers, and would be decidedly contrary to the public interest,” the RWA said. The FCC is required to evaluate whether mergers benefit the public.