WISPA Says Regulators Should Block or Condition AT&T/TW
The Wireless ISP Association is opposing AT&T's proposed $108.7 billion buy of Time Warner. The deal "would disadvantage the small, entrepreneurial companies that are investing private capital to bridge the digital divide while further solidifying the market power of the…
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Communications Daily is required reading for senior executives at top telecom corporations, law firms, lobbying organizations, associations and government agencies (including the FCC). Join them today!
same massive conglomerates that have failed to provide choice and competition in the rural broadband market," said WISPA Legislative Committee Chairman Jimmy Carr in a statement Monday. WISPA also cited AT&T's zero rating of its DirecTV Now service and said ISP favoritism of content negatively affects small broadband providers that don't own content, and said regulators should block the deal unless there are enforceable conditions that prevent consumer harm. It still isn't clear if an AT&T/TW deal could be structured so the FCC wouldn't have regulatory oversight (see 1610260022). The acquirer didn't comment Monday.