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AT&T, Time Warner Merger Takes Small Step Toward Approval

AT&T and Time Warner are looking to avoid any FCC scrutiny of their planned $85 billion acquisition of Time Warner. We had already noted how the FCC might not even be involved in reviewing the transaction due to its heavy media focus. An FCC review would only be triggered if AT&T attempted a transfer of the two dozen or so Time Warner satellite licenses or the station license for WPCH-TV in Atlanta. Avoid those, and you avoid even a possibility that the FCC could block the deal or saddle it with conditions.

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As such, Time Warner in February moved to sell off that Atlanta TV station to avoid FCC review, a sale that was quietly approved by the FCC this week.

Consumer advocates have worried that AT&T will use its expanded power to make it harder for streaming competitors to license the content they'll need to compete with AT&T's upcoming DirecTV Now streaming video service.

Consumer advocates are also worried that AT&T will use zero rating to give this service an unfair advantage, as well as the possible privacy implications of letting AT&T, a company with a spotty track record on the subject, grow significantly larger.

The deal would still need review by the Justice Department, where Trump recently appointed a new antitrust boss that has previously expressed his approval of the deal. Trump promised to block AT&T's latest megamerger on the campaign trail, calling it "too much concentration of power in the hands of too few."

AT&T remains confident that the deal will be approved anyway.

"In the modern history of the media and the internet, the U.S. government has always approved vertical mergers like ours, because they benefit consumers, strengthen competition, and, in our case, encourage innovation and investment," AT&T executive VP and general counsel David McAtee said of the transaction.

Most recommended from 17 comments



MDA
Auto Negotiating
Premium Member
join:2013-09-10
Minneapolis, MN
Netgear CM600
Asus RT-AC66U B1

7 recommendations

MDA

Premium Member

Lets play "look out for that lie!"

"In the modern history of the media and the internet, the U.S. government has always approved vertical mergers like ours, because they benefit consumers, strengthen competition, and, in our case, encourage innovation and investment," AT&T executive VP and general counsel David McAtee said of the transaction

Found it

Packeteers
Premium Member
join:2005-06-18
Forest Hills, NY

5 recommendations

Packeteers

Premium Member

trump broken promise

i thought donald was going to break up nbc+comcast by now

i'm sure at&t+twc will go through after they book a few more rooms
and conventions at trump's many resorts.
LoveHD
join:2011-07-31
Detroit, MI

2 recommendations

LoveHD

Member

Okay

I'm sure it will all work out just fine.