The FCC has voted to approve AT&T's acquisition of DirecTV, just a few days after FCC chairman Tom Wheeler recommended the commission do just that. In its approval statement, however, the FCC has outlined some conditions to which AT&T had to agree in order to receive approval. From the FCC:
As part of the merger, AT&T-DIRECTV will be required to expand its deployment of high-speed, fiber optic broadband Internet access service to 12.5 million customer locations as well as to E-rate eligible schools and libraries. In addition, AT&T-DIRECTV is prohibited from using discriminatory practices to disadvantage online video distribution services and will submit its Internet interconnection agreements for Commission review. Finally, AT&T-DIRECTV will offer broadband services to low-income consumers at discounted rates.
The document goes on to mention that the conditions are intended to curb any potential harm that could come from a massive deal that will see an already influential AT&T merging with the nation's largest satellite TV provider.
It will definitely be interesting to see what comes out of this deal, which has been in the works since early 2014. Presumably, we could start to see some interesting mobile video offerings from AT&T, along with an expansion of the company's current internet and television service offerings.
Source: FCC
