FCC Chairman Says Doesn’t Expect Agency to Review AT&T-Time Warner Deal

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai he didn’t expect the agency to have a role in reviewing AT&T's $85 billion takeover of Time Warner. Chairman Pai said he understood the companies have structured the deal so that no airwave licenses would be transferred, something that would trigger a broad FCC review. “That is the regulatory hook for FCC review,” he said. “My understanding is that the deal won’t be presented to the commission.” That would leave the Justice Department as the sole federal agency reviewing the transaction. He said the FCC hasn’t had any interaction with the department concerning the deal.