Financial Analysts Note Range Of Support For Wireless Merger

Analysts at an influential financial counseling firm say there were few surprises in petitions filed at the Federal Communications Commission asking the agency to block AT&T's proposed takeover of T-Mobile.

"The opposition filings largely amplify arguments that were previewed in the press and congressional testimony, with an emphasis on arguing that the merger would create a tipping point for a wireless duopoly and challenging AT&T's core claim that they need to acquire T-Mobile in order to resolve capacity constraints," researchers for Baltimore-based Stifel, Nicolaus & Company wrote in an analysis. The firm identified a series of demands made by critics of the merger, including a need for spectrum divestitures, regulation of wireless roaming, special access, and handset access.