FCC Riles AT&T by Releasing Report on T-Mobile Merger

Computerworld: The FCC has released a 157-page staff report condemning the proposed merger between AT&T and T-Mobile. According to the report, the two mobile carriers “have failed to meet their burden of demonstrating that the competitive harms that would result from the proposed transaction are outweighed by the claimed benefits.” It continues, “The potential loss [of T-Mobile as a] competitive force in the market is a cause for serious concern.”

Before the release of the report, AT&T had withdrawn its FCC application, saying that it would reapply after the conclusion of the merger-related court case brought by the Department of Justice. The release of the report infuriated company execs, including AT&T VP Jim Cicconi. “This report is not an order of the FCC and has never been voted on,” said Cicconi. “The draft report has also not been made available to AT&T prior to today, so we have had no opportunity to address or rebut its claims, which makes its release all the more improper.”