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The Federal Communications Commission said today that it will take a "coordinated" look at AT&T's proposed acquisition of both T-Mobile USA and spectrum controlled by Qualcomm.
TechCrunch reported that the FCC had informed AT&T that the reviews would be done together, which would put the telecommunications giant in the position of justifying the acquisition of such a large amount of wireless spectrum.
"The commission's ongoing review has confirmed that the proposed transactions raise a number of related issues, including, but not limited to, questions regarding AT&T's aggregation of spectrum throughout the nation, particularly in overlapping areas," the FCC said in letters to both AT&T and Qualcomm.
One of the primary reasons AT&T said it is acquiring T-Mobile is the need for more wireless spectrum, which would help the company expand its upcoming 4G LTE network.
Qualcomm, meanwhile, has a swath of spectrum that is compatible with what AT&T purchased during the last major spectrum auction. Qualcomm had intended to use that spectrum to power a mobile-TV business, but was forced to shutter it due to minimal demand. AT&T in December announced plans to acquire that spectrum from Qualcomm for $1.925 billion.
Representatives from AT&T and Qualcomm weren't immediately available to comment on the change in the review.
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TechCrunch reported that the FCC had informed AT&T that the reviews would be done together, which would put the telecommunications giant in the position of justifying the acquisition of such a large amount of wireless spectrum.
"The commission's ongoing review has confirmed that the proposed transactions raise a number of related issues, including, but not limited to, questions regarding AT&T's aggregation of spectrum throughout the nation, particularly in overlapping areas," the FCC said in letters to both AT&T and Qualcomm.
One of the primary reasons AT&T said it is acquiring T-Mobile is the need for more wireless spectrum, which would help the company expand its upcoming 4G LTE network.
Qualcomm, meanwhile, has a swath of spectrum that is compatible with what AT&T purchased during the last major spectrum auction. Qualcomm had intended to use that spectrum to power a mobile-TV business, but was forced to shutter it due to minimal demand. AT&T in December announced plans to acquire that spectrum from Qualcomm for $1.925 billion.
Related stories:
AT&T and T-Mobile: Wireless megamerger
AT&T gets merger support from key lawmaker
AT&T offers more data to FCC for T-Mobile deal
AT&T customers try to block merger with T-Mobile
The FCC is still working through the process of reviewing the T-Mobile acquisition, which has drawn supporters and sharp critics alike. Free Press, media watchdog group opposed to the deal, today praised the FCC decision to combine the review process, noting the large market share AT&T already controls. AT&T and T-Mobile: Wireless megamerger
AT&T gets merger support from key lawmaker
AT&T offers more data to FCC for T-Mobile deal
AT&T customers try to block merger with T-Mobile
Representatives from AT&T and Qualcomm weren't immediately available to comment on the change in the review.
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