FCC Asks More Questions on AT&T's Proposed Buy of Low-Band Spectrum in California
The FCC Wireless Bureau asked a new round of questions about AT&T’s proposed buy of lower 700 MHz band licenses in California from Club 42. The questions focus on one of the licenses covering San Luis Obispo. AT&T holds 49…
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MHz of below-1-GHz spectrum there, which is one-third of the currently suitable and available below-1-GHz spectrum there, the bureau said. The transaction would increase its holdings to 61 MHz. The May mobile holdings order "concluded that, where an entity acquiring below-1-GHz spectrum already holds approximately one-third or more of the below-1-GHz spectrum in a particular market, the demonstration of the public interest benefits of the proposed transaction will need to clearly outweigh the potential public interest harms, irrespective of other factors,” the bureau said. “To make such a demonstration, provide a detailed explanation, consistent with the Commission’s conclusions about the importance of low-band spectrum, for why the proposed acquisition of this specific Lower 700 MHz B Block below-1-GHz spectrum would not raise rivals’ costs or foreclose competition such that the ability of rival service providers to offer a competitive response to any potential anticompetitive behavior on the part of AT&T would be eliminated or significantly lessened.” This is the third information request sent to AT&T by the FCC on the deal. The others were sent Sept. 22 and Feb. 19. “In conducting our review of the proposed transaction and the responses to our initial and supplemental information requests, we have determined that we need additional information from AT&T,” the bureau said. It asked for an expeditious response.