AT&T’s friends: Meet the companies and politicians “enthusiastic” about DirecTV buy

Customers, consumer advocacy groups, and small cable companies are speaking out against AT&T’s proposed purchase of DirecTV. But just as Comcast was able to claim broad support for its Time Warner Cable merger, AT&T has plenty of moneyed interests and politicians on its side.

Gov Mike Beebe (R-AR), Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, and Utah State Senators Kevin Van Tassell, David Hinkins, and Ralph Okerlund have asked the Federal Communications Commission to approval the deal.