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Codebreaker

FCC slows down AT&T and T-Mobile merger

John Moe Jul 22, 2011

The Federal Communications Commission released a letter on Wednesday that stated its review of the proposed AT&T – T-Mobile merger would be extended.

From the Wall Street Journal:

“In a letter released Wednesday, the FCC said the delay was necessary because AT&T is relying on new economic models in support of the proposed merger.The decision to stop the clock while AT&T files the new economic data and third parties review it will likely prolong the FCC’s review for at least a few weeks and possibly longer. The FCC, which started examining this transaction on April 28, rarely approves major deals within its 180-day review period. The FCC and the Justice Department both have to sign off on the deal before it can go through.”

This comes right after Senator Herb Kohl (D-Wis., retiring, nothing to lose) announced his opposition to the deal. Are we seeing politics and bureaucracy and delay here OR are we seeing an actual possibility that maybe this deal gets spiked?

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