From the moment AT&T announced a $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile almost two weeks ago, many industry watchers agreed that the deal would face close scrutiny from federal regulators. The deal would, after all, lump an estimated 130 million subscribers under one carrier and make AT&T the only major GSM provider in the country.

AT&T has yet to file the official merger documents with the Federal Communications Commission, but one agency official already has said the deal may face a “very steep climb.” In an interview with C-Span that will air today, Commissioner Michael Copps, the senior Democrat at the FCC, called the transaction “huge” and “paradigm-altering.” He also said it concerns him more than January’s Comcast-NBC Universal merger, a marriage that Copps voted against.

“you will remember in the Comcast merger, I said at the outset it would have been a very steep climb for me,” Copps said according to an interview transcript published by Politico. “this is maybe an even steeper climb from the standpoint of a lot of power and a lot of influence given to one company in a world where two companies are going to control, like, 80 percent of the spectrum.”

Copps predicted that having one fewer carrier in the market could slow down future incentives auctions for the available wireless spectrum. Though he wouldn’t mention specific conditions for approval, Copps said the FCC will seriously consider whether it would call for divestitures in certain markets. “it comes down to all the considerations of whether this serves the public interest, convenience, and necessity,” he said. “That’s our charge. I hope that we will fulfill it.”

Full Profile E-mail Kent German

If you have a question or comment for Kent German, you can submit it here. however, because our editors and writers receive hundreds of requests, we cannot tell you when you may receive a response.

Submit your question or comment here: 0 of 1500 characters

Kent German is a senior editor for cell phone reviews at CNET. When he’s not testing the newest handsets on the market, he’s blogging about cell phone news for Crave. In his On Call column, he answers reader questions and gives his take on the rapidly changing mobile industry.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Related Posts

1. Hot Air » Blog Archive » It's official: Kucinich switches to “yes …
2. Verizon, Google reach Internet traffic deal
3. AT & T to buy T-Mobile USA for $US39 billion
4. ClipperBlog.com Blog for the Los Angeles NBA Clippers Fans » Blog Archive » Clippers expected to sign Randy Foye and Ryan Gomes
5. Tweet Outpost » Blog Archive » Times Square Car Bomber: Police …