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morbo
Complete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
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morbo

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Does this deal require Government approval?

It's unclear from this article: does AT&T's plans to acquire Alltel require government approval? If so, is it anticipated to be approved easily?

Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02

Karl Bode

News Guy

Yes, and it should be approved. After blocking T-Mobile AT&T complained the FCC was slow to approve spectrum deals and the FCC has sped up approval process somewhat...

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

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said by morbo:

It's unclear from this article: does AT&T's plans to acquire Alltel require government approval? If so, is it anticipated to be approved easily?

It needs FCC approval for sure. Will it need DOJ approval for anti-trust purposes? I expect they have to sign off too, but a small deal like this may just be an automatic DOJ approval.

Oh_No
Trogglus normalus
join:2011-05-21
Chicago, IL

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I cant see how it can be approved unless they force them to sell the spectrum.
ATT has already been spectrum squatting defying the FCC rules that they must use the spectrum.
Why would the FCC allow them to squat on more of the spectrum. Soon ATT is going to own all of it if they dont stop them.
Cobra11M
join:2010-12-23
Mineral Wells, TX

Cobra11M

Member

thing is maybe the FCC is setting them up!, ha would it be something if our government forced all of them to share spectrum across the board! That's highly possible it will happen soon weather its 5 - 10 years down the road.. it will no doubt happen
pandora
Premium Member
join:2001-06-01
Outland

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said by Karl Bode:

Yes, and it should be approved. After blocking T-Mobile AT&T complained the FCC was slow to approve spectrum deals and the FCC has sped up approval process somewhat...

I doubt it'll be blocked as AT&T has paid up, and the current administration isn't worried about getting itself re-elected.

Opensecrets says AT&T gave about 5 million in campaign contributions and paid 15 million to lobbyists (most of whom were former government regulators).

That's for 2012. A bit over 400 million dollars since 1990 and 1998 per opensecrets (affiliate lobbying records seem to go back only to 1998 in opensecrets).

I tried, but can't figure out how to get a direct link to the AT&T lobbying record. You can see the individual lobbyists hired. It is amazing when you compare them and their prior governmental relationships.

If you can't buy love, with enough cash, long enough, you may be able to buy a sizable portion of government.
TBBroadband
join:2012-10-26
Fremont, OH

TBBroadband to Cobra11M

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In 5 to 10 years, the FCC will change and so will most of DC. You can't say they're setting them up.

The thing though is, its expensive to build your own network, COX already found that out along with many other companies, why do you think VZW is mostly put together smaller companies along with AT&T Mobility? The cost of rebuilding those networks and such costs tooooo much for anyone to take on right now unless you build out a fully complete network and still will take you several years to get where AT&T and VZW are today. Hell, even Sprint can't keep up, but then again they could have started years ago.
gamersglory
join:2012-11-11
Chapel Hill, NC

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Alltel is much smaller then T-mobile so it should be fine
also alltel is a regional carrier