Coalition Pushes for Conditions on AT&T/Time Warner

Conservative groups and those saying they represent the public interest asked DOJ for conditions on AT&T buying Time Warner. In a letter Thursday, Americans for Limited Government, the American Family Association, Consumer Federation of America, Frontiers of Freedom, Public Knowledge, Tea Party Patriots and Writers Guild of America West said they have significant policy disagreements, but they agree in wanting to ensure "free expression is not threatened" by media consolidation, urging "significant conditions" addressing those competitive concerns. They said dangers posed by AT&T/TW include New AT&T favoring its own programming via zero rating, channel placement strategies, cost discrimination or not allowing rival programming on its network. They said the buyer could favor its DirecTV by making programming more costly to competitor Dish Network. The signatories didn't make specific condition suggestions. AT&T said it has "consistently demonstrated how this transaction will benefit consumers. We look forward to closing the transaction by year-end so that we can bring consumers these benefits, including greater competition and innovative services." Meanwhile, TW said in its earnings release Thursday it still expects the deal (see 1710230013) to close by year's end.