The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Department of Justice 鈥� the two major federal agencies that will examine the proposed $39 billion merger 鈥� must decide if the combination is in the public interest. That is, they will have to weigh competition against access: whether it鈥檚 better to have more competition in a highly concentrated industry or expanded broadband technology in rural and smaller communities, as AT&T argues.
鈥淚 think the Department of Justice is going to give this merger a very hard review,鈥� says Sean Griffith, a professor of business law at Fordham Law School in New York. 鈥淭he level of scrutiny will be substantial.鈥�
