FCC is trying to end net neutrality. This is what it can look like.

[fatslob-:O]

Pemalite said:

According to this... Verizons profit margins hit upwards of 16.3%.
https://ycharts.com/companies/VZ/profit_margin

And AT&T had peaks of 21%.
https://ycharts.com/companies/T/profit_margin

Verizon itself brings in $125~ Billion USD in revenue.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verizon_Communications

AT&T brings in $160~ Billion USD in revenue.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AT&T

They aren't doing it as tough as you think they are... They also tend to give billions to shareholders.

Instead of trying to scam consumers with Micro-transactions... They should try to value-add, which many providers did here Pre-NBN to try and get customers.
In short, they lowered prices, but got consumers to spend more and locked them into contracts.

Yet at the same time both exhibited losses plus I'm using yearly numbers with last year as a reference anyways while the peak numbers you presented can only be reached in a quarter ... 

And calling it a "scam" is a bit much when the said firm in question is providing you with the service as often advertised ... 

Spend more how when market penetration is already high ? The only obvious way to make consumers spend more is to tailor service packages and hope that they choose highest tier ... 

Pemalite said:

They have diversified enough for that never to become an issue.
AT&T and Verizon combined also have over half a trillion dollars in assets that they can leverage.

I doubt it, all they know how to do is provide either cable or internet service and that makes up the vast majority of their revenue so if the whole telecommunications industry goes down then they do as well ... 

They may have half a trillion dollars in assets but it remains hard to compete against top incumbents in established industries ... 

All of the biggest tech companies are trying to enter healthcare but you don't see any of them willingly entering pharmaceuticals despite their total capital ...