DirecTV, AT&T Aim to Sweeten Proposed Merger for Regulators

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In a quest to make their merger more attractive to the Federal Communications Commission, telecom giant AT&T and El Segundo satellite TV provider DirecTV are stressing to the commission how their combined assets would be beneficial to consumers.

The two companies explained in Tuesday filings with the FCC, which must sign off on the proposed merger, that their combination would create more competition for cable television and positively impact broadband Internet service.

The filings state that “the integration of AT&T’s wired and wireless broadband infrastructure with DirecTV’s nationwide video service will allow the merged company to offer bundled broadband and video services in ways that the separate companies could not without the transaction, resulting in lower prices and an improved service experience for consumers.”

The filings also describe the merger of the two companies as being “in the public interest.”

DirecTV spokesman Robert Mercer said the company had no comment beyond the filings.

AT&T is offering $48.5 billion to buy DirecTV in a proposed merger that was first announced nearly a year ago.

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