(Reuters) – ATT Inc accused the U.S. communications regulator of being one-sided and cherry-picking facts when it issued a stinging rebuke of the company’s plan to buy T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom.
The scathing Federal Communications Commission staff report, released earlier this week, said ATT’s $39 billion proposal to purchase T-Mobile would lead to higher prices for customers and big job losses.
“The report cherry-picks facts to support its views, and ignores facts that don’t. Where facts were lacking, the report speculates,” Jim Cicconi, ATT’s chief lobbyist, said in a statement on Thursday.
ATT has withdrawn its FCC merger request, saying it will focus on fighting a Justice Department lawsuit that seeks to block the deal on antitrust grounds.
People familiar with the matter said ATT and Deutsche Telekom were still fighting for the merger and were not conceding to second-best solutions like a joint venture.
Analysts at Stifel Nicolaus said the FCC report had given the companies “a higher mountain to climb in overcoming government opposition.”
The FCC’s analytical support would help the Justice Department in
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