http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2017/10/16/t-mobile-and-sprint-may-be-getting-close-to-a-merger-heres-what-you-need-to-know/

T-Mobile and Sprint appear to be edging ever closer to a merger, with a new report from CNBC suggesting the two companies could announce a deal in late October or early November.

Combining America's third- and fourth-largest wireless carriers would leave the country with just three nationwide providers, including AT&T and Verizon. But a proposed merger between Sprint and T-Mobile could face a tough test before regulators, particularly as many policymakers (and consumers) have been expressing some concern about the consolidation of large, powerful industries. Here's everything you need to know to get up to speed.