FCC Asks AT&T for Pricing, Spectrum Data

Federal telecommunications regulators reviewing AT&T Inc.'s proposed acquisition of T-Mobile USA on May 27 delivered their first request for information on the deal, demanding detailed data on AT&T's pricing, spectrum holdings and any alternatives it considered to solve its capacity constraints.

The Federal Communications Commission's 78-page request asks AT&T 50 detailed questions about its spectrum holdings, its network and its contention that it needs T-Mobile's airwaves to provide nearly seamless mobile broadband service across the US. In the data request, the FCC asked for any "plans, analyses and reports" on the wireless giant's capacity constraints and any alternatives AT&T considered for solving its network capacity constraints other than buying T-Mobile. The agency also asked for pricing information about AT&T's services and "any competitor's pricing lists," including pricing policies, forecasts and tiered pricing models. The agency also asked for detailed information about AT&T's coverage areas, including areas where it "does not possess sufficient spectrum to deploy LTE," and its agreements with other carriers, including deals to offer roaming. The FCC's data requests are the clearest signals the agency will provide to the public about the issues it will examine during its review of the acquisition. FCC officials won't speak publicly about their deliberations until the agency votes on the matter. And the Justice Department's review of the deal is far more private and the antitrust officials don't release any information during a review.