AT&T is prepared to abide by the new net neutrality rules under the DirecTV deal

In a few weeks, federal regulators are likely to approve AT&T's $49 billion purchase of DirecTV. To seal the deal, AT&T is expected to make several promises to soothe concerns that the acquisition could hurt consumers. Among the deal's so-called conditions is expected to be something fairly simple. AT&T is prepared to accept aspects of the network neutrality rules adopted by the Federal Communications Commission earlier in 2015, according to people familiar with the negotiations, who declined to be named because the deliberations are private. AT&T has publicly opposed making the agency's newest net neutrality rules a condition of the acquisition.

It said when it first proposed the merger that it was prepared to abide by an older version of net neutrality. But in negotiations with the FCC, which must approve the deal, AT&T may be willing to go further. If AT&T ultimately followed the newer rules for Internet providers, it would be committing to at least three things. It would honor the FCC's ban on the slowing of Web sites, as well as a ban on blocking Web sites. It would also comply with a ban against taking payments from Web site operators to speed up their content, a practice known as "paid prioritization." Apparently, it is unclear how long AT&T would be required to abide by such a commitment.