IP Democracy: Report: FCC to Approve AT&T Merger Unconditionally

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has circulated a proposed decision that would green light the merger of AT&T and BellSouth with no conditions, according to this AP report.. The move by the nation’s communications regulatory agency appears to be coming even prior to approval of the combination by the Department of Justice, which has to weigh in as the nation’s antitrust authority.

Martin’s recommendation apparently contains no requirements that AT&T has to meet in order to get the deal through. If the Commission’s review of the merger has reached this stage, it’s likely that the item will be put on the FCC’s meeting agenda for October 14. The AP report also states that the Commission is readying a “notice of inquiry” on the issue of network neutrality, which will be released at the same meeting.

News of the approval has prompted a coalition of consumer and regulatory groups, which includes American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Consumers Union, Consumer Federation of America, National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA), Media Access Project, to schedule a press call for Monday, presumably to protest the rumored approval.

Update: As the Wall Street Journal’s Amy Schatz reports, it’s unlikely that the no-condition part of the approval will last for very long. With the newest commissioner, Republican Robert McDowell, recused from the vote due to conflicts related to past lobbying jobs, Martin will have to negotiate with the two Democrats on the five-member commission in order to get the item through.

Posted by Cynthia Brumfield on September 22, 2006 3:03 PM to IP Democracy