WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — FCC Chairman Thomas Wheeler will be distributing an order to the other four commissioners to vote on the deal that was announced more than a year ago, The Hill reported on Tuesday.
In May 2014, AT&T announced its plans to buy DirecTV in order to expand its television service presence nationally and strengthen its purchasing power against TV networks that demand higher fees for their programs.
Upon completing the merger, AT&T would serve more than 25 million TV customers, including DirecTV’s 20 million satellite TV service.
“Importantly, we will require an independent officer to help ensure compliance with these and other proposed conditions,” The Hill quoted Wheeler as saying. “These strong measures will protect consumers, expand high-speed broadband availability, and increase competition."
The $49 billion deal, signed off by the Justice Department, will make AT&T the biggest pay television provider and the second biggest wireless carrier.
