FCC's Copps Knocks AT&T|T-Mobile Deal

Federal Communications Commission member Michael Copps appears on this week's The Communicators on C-SPAN -- and he has serious concerns about AT&T’s proposed acquisition of T-Mobile.

Commissioner Copps says the transaction is an even steeper climb for him than Comcast’s merger with NBC Universal. He also said the deal could negatively impact other proceedings at the agency.

"What is the impact going to be on American jobs? I'm trying to find that out. I haven't had a satisfactory answer yet, but I hope and trust that we will. There’s a lot of money on the table, and how much of that money will end up in Europe supporting telecommunications there rather than the United States? It’s a big deal, but as much as anything, what troubles me is that it kind of sucks the oxygen out of so many issues that are pending before the Federal Communications Commission. We can chew gum and walk at the same time, I guess, but this affects so much of what we’re doing. I think whether this goes forward or not has an effect on the whole issue of spectrum auctions. I think it has an impact on public safety. It’s a lot to absorb. I've been at the Commission almost 10 years now and it seems sometimes that we’re the federal merger commission. That’s because companies bring us so many mergers, and it’s always ‘The last one. We’re not going to be back.’ But as soon as you approve one, someone else is at the door saying ‘Hey you let the other guy get real big so you've got to let us too, or else it’s not fair.’"