FCC Votes to Approve AT&T-BellSouth Merger

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7:55 am on December 30, 2006 | Category: Business, Corporate, Regulation

AT&T and BellSouth have finally broken the FCC’s regulatory deadlock over their upcoming merger, by making a number of key concessions, including a pledge to maintain the principle of net neutrality.

FCC commissioners voted 4-0 in favor of the compromise on Friday afternoon, clearing the way for the largest telecommunications merger in American history.

Republican commissioners, Kevin Martin and Deborah Taylor Tate released a joint statement saying that “this merger will further many of (the FCC’s) broadband, competition, and public safety priorities and… on balance, will serve the public interest.”

FCC approval was the final regulatory hurdle blocking AT&T’s merger with BellSouth Corp., meaning that the deal is now free to close immediately.