FCC official: ‘No way chairman’s office rubber stamps’ AT&T’s T-Mobile acquisition

[Dana]

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Speaking to The Wall Street Journal on Thursday, an anonymous Federal Communications Commission official said “there’s no way the chairman’s office [will] rubber-stamp” AT&T’s $39 billion acquisition of Deutsche Telecom-owned T-Mobile USA, and that the approval process will be “a steep climb at least.” The FCC official went on to say that the FCC has not even started to evaluate the deal and that it will be scrutinized and denied or accepted based on whether or not it will be in the best interest of consumers. Similar deals have been doubted before, though, and the WSJ points to the merger between XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite radio, which FCC chairman Kevin Martin said would be a high hurdle to approve back in 2007. Current FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said Tuesday during his speech at the CTIA Wireless 2011 trade show, which we live blogged, that “healthy competition produces greater innovation and investment, lower prices, and better service.” AT&T’s purchase of T-Mobile is seen as likely decreasing the amount of competition in the U.S. wireless market, with just three major carriers competing for customers. But Genachowski has yet to comment on the acquisition proposal. As we said in an earlier editorial, T-Mobile customers could come out on top with this deal — if it ends up being approved.

http://www.bgr.com/2011/03/24/fcc-o...fice-rubber-stamps-atts-t-mobile-acquisition/

 

[retro]

Re: FCC official: ‘No way chairman’s office rubber stamps’ AT&T’s T-Mobile acquisitio

You can't really compare AT&T buying T-Mobile to the XM/Sirius merger. They're not even apples and oranges... they're... I don't know, zucchini and Dr. Pepper. XM and Sirius were the only satellite radio companies in the United States, whereas there are many other national and regional wireless providers out there. There could be a comparison if AT&T were buying T-Mobile, Verizon, and Sprint all at the same time... but that's obviously not the case.

It may take a while, but it'll get approved... and I doubt it'll be as big a deal of the XM/Sirius merger.

 

[Tangerine]

Re: FCC official: ‘No way chairman’s office rubber stamps’ AT&T’s T-Mobile acquisitio

It's not a coincidence that AT&Ts logo is eerily similar to the Death Star.

 

[Tuffdisc]

Re: FCC official: ‘No way chairman’s office rubber stamps’ AT&T’s T-Mobile acquisitio

Seems like T-Mobile are in a bit of a dilemma, that I can understand from the way customer service treats its customers

 

[Tangerine]

Re: FCC official: ‘No way chairman’s office rubber stamps’ AT&T’s T-Mobile acquisitio

Seems like T-Mobile are in a bit of a dilemma, that I can understand from the way customer service treats its customers

Wait until you have to deal with AT&T. Ever see the "Soup Nazi" on Seinfeld?

 

[Tuffdisc]

Re: FCC official: ‘No way chairman’s office rubber stamps’ AT&T’s T-Mobile acquisitio

Wait until you have to deal with AT&T. Ever see the "Soup Nazi" on Seinfeld?

Not a big fan of Seinfield

 

[retro]

Re: FCC official: ‘No way chairman’s office rubber stamps’ AT&T’s T-Mobile acquisitio

Not a big fan of Seinfield

*high five*