FCC Blasts AT&T Deal

November 30, 2011 at 4:45 am PT

Federal regulators issued a stinging 109-page analysis of AT&T Inc.’s proposed $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile USA, saying it would limit competition in virtually every U.S. city and lead to higher prices for customers.

The decision to release the analysis — which came despite AT&T’s objections — marked the latest blow to the deal, which is on life support after a lawsuit by the Justice Department and criticism from the Federal Communications Commission.

The FCC said last week it wanted to call a trial-like hearing to review the deal. AT&T responded by pulling its application at the FCC and the agency, after some discussion over the weekend, agreed Tuesday to let the withdrawal go through.

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Tagged with: Amy Schatz, AT&T, FCC, Greg Bensinger, Justice Department, T-Mobile, The Wall Street Journal

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