AT&T swallows DirecTV in $50 BEELLION biz gulp – moments after FCC OK The FCC has formally approved AT&T's acquisition of satellite TV giant DirecTV, clearing the way for the nearly $50bn deal to go through. On Friday, the US watchdog backed the $48.5bn buyout plan two days after chairman Tom Wheeler announced he would put the proposal up for approval. The deal was waved through with …
I see nothing about them not being allowed to kill off the satellite business end. Where a lot of Direct TV's customers are (same for Dish TV) the cable/broadband service is crap if it's even available.
I note there's a requirement to "upgrade" but no timeline. Pretty open-ended these requirements are. Not a good sign.
wondering same stuff.supposedly no changes for 3 years but nothing stated for after that. here in the boonies of maine my ONLY broadband and telephone carrier is TDS telecom. there is no cable in the town at all.
so its satellite for me and directv always been, for me, better deal than dish.
"I see nothing about them not being allowed to kill off the satellite business end. Where a lot of Direct TV's customers are (same for Dish TV) the cable/broadband service is crap if it's even available."
I can't see them doing this though. AT&T's working for AT&T's interests, not the entire cable industry. AT&T cable does not cover a large portion of the US, while DirecTV covers the whole thing. They'd gain a few AT&T cable customers while losing many more customers who have no AT&T services (except maybe wireless) available.
This acquisition is a win win for consumers and AT&T. Fiber to the premises (fiber to the home) is expanded by 12.5 million. This also gives AT&T the ability to free up bandwidth over twisted pair where it is needed. AT&T is required to maintain net neutrality as well. There will also be more competition for high speed internet as well. This also gives AT&T the ability to compete in foreign markets for satellite TV.
AT&T will weasel out of laying any new infrastructure, or as little as they can.
Or they'll pick the 12.5 million most profitable areas and leave the rest to rot.
There is a history of them agreeing to things like this, and completely failing to even partially deliver.
Remain cynical until proven otherwise.
maybe i need to read the document, but what stops them from claiming delays for 10 yrs...
or a licensing agreement so they offload the requirement to third parties? no new fiber is installed, but AT&T gains the 12.5mil capacity. i guess i could choose not to deal with my local co-op *directly*...
jesus christ, we need to just nationalize internet *access* in this country like the highways... and actually be responsible about it this time...
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