FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel’s open mindedness on a...

FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel’s open mindedness on a SoftBank/T-Mobile deal (CD May 23 p1) shouldn’t be mistaken for “receptivity” on her part, MoffettNathanson analyst Craig Moffett told us. “It is clear that SoftBank’s desire to do a deal hasn’t cooled one iota,” he said. “The signals out of Washington also haven’t moved one iota.” Prospects for regulatory approval remain “extraordinarily low,” he said Friday. If anything, AT&T’s proposed buy of DirecTV and Comcast/Time Warner (see separate report above in this issue) “make it even easier” for the Department of Justice to reject SoftBank/T-Mobile, Moffett said. “Politically, Washington would have to be sensitive to either of the two poles of approving everything, which would make them appear like they were asleep at the switch, or, alternately, rejecting everything, which would make them appear recalcitrant and obstinate."