FCC asks AT&T for more information on merger

The Federal Communications Commission asked AT&T for more information backing the company’s claims it needs to merge with T-Mobile in order to bring mobile broadband services to rural areas.

The FCC’s request comes after the discovery of private AT&T documents filed to the agency that showed the company figured it would cost $3.8 billion to bring 4G LTE wireless services to 97 percent of the country. The documents, reported by media, raised criticism that the company didn't need to buy T-Mobile for the much bigger price tag of $39 billion. The company had unintentionally filed the documents with information intended to remain private. The FCC later took down the document from its Web site. AT&T has argued to regulators that without the merger, it wouldn't be able to expand high-speed mobile Internet access to as many rural areas as the U.S. government would like. The company said it didn't have a business justification for the expansion.

(Aug 24)