States Come Out In Support of AT&T/T-Mobile Merger
On July 27, 2011, the Louisiana Public Service Commission voted 4-to-1 to approve the AT&T/T-Mobile merger. According to the technology website, CNET, the commission noted: "the proposed acquisition has received overriding support locally, as is evidence by the diverse number of groups and officials who are in support." The merger already had the support of Republican Governor Bobby Jindal, who, the previous day, formally wrote to the FCC to urge the deal be completed.
The technology website, CNET, wrote:
"The decision puts Louisiana in a large group of states that has shown strong approval for the merger in one way or another. At the time of this writing, 26 state governors (including Jindal) have sent letters of support to the FCC and the Arizona Corporation Commission voted to approve the deal without a hearing earlier this month."
On July 29, the Public Service Commission Of West Virginia also OK'd the merger. The Commission said, "The commission believes that the transaction will not adversely impact competition or have other adverse impact on this state."
At the same time, as Speedmatters.org reported last week, "Eleven state attorneys general today issued a letter to the federal government, endorsing the AT&T/T-Mobile merger."
Only the FCC has the power to approve or deny a national communications merger, but states can change the approval process. The Washington Post explained:
"Analysts say state regulators can impose their own conditions on the deal — such as marketing restrictions and employment promises. And discussions from those state-level investigations and hearings are being watched by regulators at the Justice Department and the Federal Communications Commission."
AT&T/T-Mobile merger finds more support in the states (CNet)
Public Service Commission of West Virginia, Charleston
State Attorneys General Back AT&T/T-Mobile Merger (SpeedMatters)
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