BAD DATA: The staff of the Federal Communications Commission issued a report saying that AT&T Inc. and T-Mobile USA provided flawed information to justify AT&T’s planned $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile.
QUESTIONABLE DEAL: The report also found the companies failed to show the deal was in the public interest, echoing conclusions by the Justice Department. Both worry that the combination would reduce competition and likely lead to higher prices.
AT&T’S RESPONSE: The company says the FCC’s decision to release the report was “troubling” because it was a staff report and was never voted on by the FCC’s commissioners.
