AT&T’s Stephenson Plans Court Fight to Salvage T-Mobile Deal

AT&T Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Randall Stephenson is facing the toughest regulatory challenge of his career as U.S. officials put his $39 billion gamble on T-Mobile USA in jeopardy.

While AT&T seeks an expedited hearing in court to force the Justice Department to make its case against the merger, the carrier will also propose remedies that would make the takeover more suitable to the agency. There was no internal debate within the company on whether to fight for the deal. AT&T may still be able to close the merger, either by defeating the Justice Department in court or by negotiating with regulators. “Our door is open” if AT&T wants to address the agency’s concerns about the deal, Sharis Pozen, acting chief of the Justice Department’s antitrust division, told reporters at a news conference. The Justice Department has assured AT&T that its public comments about its willingness to discuss remedies were genuine.