AT&T nearing regulatory approval for DirecTV acquisition
Big corporate mergers can take a while to complete, but AT&T's proposed acquisition of DirecTV is one step closer. CNN reports FCC chairman Tom Wheeler has recommended regulatory approval of the deal. In a statement to CNN, Wheeler said that the acquisition will "directly benefit consumers by bringing more competition to the broadband marketplace." CNN also noted that an AT&T-DirecTV merger is different from the failed Comcast-TWC merger because neither AT&T nor DirecTV control programming like Comcast. DirecTV also doesn't provide broadband service to as many households.
The conditions for the sale that Wheeler proposed in his recommendation are meant to protect customer access to online video services. AT&T will be required to submit regular network performance reports to the ...