Federal Communications Commission chairman Tom Wheeler has recently recommended the approval of the billion dollar acquisition of DirecTV by AT&T.
The $48.5 billion acquisition plan will merge the second-biggest wireless company and the biggest satellite TV provider in the United States creating of the biggest media deal in the past year. The approval of FCC Chairman Wheeler saw the end of a review process that lasted more than 12 months, according to The Wall Street Journal.
FCC chairman Wheeler said that he approved that proposed merger from AT&T and DirecTV on the condition that AT&T will have to expand its fiber optic broadband service. Wheeler added that his approval has been circulated to FCC's four other commissioner.
On top of expanding AT&T's fiber optics network, the company is also required to apply all of its broadband data caps it currently impose to all its customers to its own over-the-top video service in order to eliminate any chance of it taking advantage of its rivals.
According to USA Today, no additional stipulation were added with regards to Internet neutrality. The United States Department of Justice released a statement that it will not block the said merger, adding that it has already closed all related investigation. Assistant Attorney General Bill Baer said in a statement, "After an extensive investigation, we concluded (the deal) does not pose a significant risk to competition."
The DirecTV acquisition was publicized in May 2014. AT&T said that in acquiring DirecTV along with its 20 million customers, the merger will expand the satellite cable company's customer base as more and more American are migrating towards online TV.