AT&T and DirecTV met with the FCC to address conditions the Commission could impose on the $48.5 billion merger.
Within the last month Netflix, Dish, Cogent, and advocacy groups asked the FCC to place restrictions on the deal.
The restrictions involve including all video services in any data caps AT&T implements, selling standalone 25 Mbps broadband service, where it is available, for no more than $29.95 for seven years, and to adhere to net neutrality rules for seven years.
In the filing AT&T also said they don’t have an incentive to implement usage-based pricing in such a way that would harm OVD competition. AT&T mentioned that the Commission’s position on the matter supports AT&T’s.
“The record does not support Opponents’ request that AT&T be barred from exempting any online video service from any usage-based tracking, metering, or billing in its broadband services,” said AT&T in the filing. “In its recent Open Internet Order, the Commission declined to impose the sort of “across-the- board” prohibitions sought here by Opponents.” The company also said, “Opponents offer no reason for the Commission to reverse these very recent conclusions and issue a blanket, abstract prohibition that would apply only to AT&T.”
AT&T went on to say usage-based pricing would prevent customers from obtaining the service they want for the price they want; that this would affect competition by preventing AT&T from vying with cable’s higher-speed broadband offerings.
The FCC suspended the 180 day period on its review of the deal two and a half months ago.
Filed Under: Industry regulations
