FCC Unanimously Approves AT&T-DirecTV Merger

The Federal Communications Commission has unanimously approved the merger of AT&T and DirecTV.

The Commission set conditions on the deal, requiring that AT&T:

• Build-out "fiber to the premise" Gigapower service to 12.5 million customer locations.
• Provide fiber service to all eligible E-rate schools and libraries where it deploys "fiber to the premise" (FTTP) service.
• Provide discounted broadband service for low-income subscribers.

The merger earlier gained the approval of the U.S. Justice Department that said the deal was not a risk to competition.

In a letter to CWA President Chris Shelton, AT&T said it was moving forward to extend the management neutrality and card check provisions giving workers a fair choice about union representation.

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said AT&T's merger with DirecTV, the largest U.S. satellite TV company, will "directly benefit consumers by bringing more competition to the broadband marketplace" and by AT&T's commitment to deploy high-speed fiber to millions of customers, especially in rural areas. The combined DirecTV and AT&T will have more than 26 million customers.