GOP Senators See Benefits In AT&T Merger, Cite Limited Role Of Congress

Senate Antitrust Subcommittee Ranking Member Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) appear to be taking on Senate Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman Herb Kohl (D-WI) who called on authorities to block AT&T's purchase of T-Mobile. The two senators wrote to federal regulators arguing that the deal "may prove to be a positive step on the path to world-class wireless broadband throughout the United States." The senators say benefits of the merger could include "enhanced service quality, expanded network capacity, and increased data speeds -- particularly given the companies' roughly compatible networks, complementary spectrum holdings, and well-matched cell site grids."

The GOP senators urged regulators to thoroughly review the transaction, while suggesting it is not the role of Congress to say whether the merger should be blocked or approved. "Unlike some of our colleagues, who have specifically called for your agencies to block the merger...we urge you to evaluate all evidence in deciding whether proposed transaction" is legal, the GOP senators said.