The Louisiana Public Service Commission should decline jurisdiction...

The Louisiana Public Service Commission should decline jurisdiction over AT&T’s planned buy of DirecTV or take a position of non-opposition in approving it, AT&T said in an ex parte filing posted in docket S-33251 Friday (http://1.usa.gov/1ny8R4u). The transaction would not result in the change of ownership or control of any telecom service provider (TSP) in the state, said the petition filed June 12. “AT&T is not a TSP,” but a “holding company that through its subsidiaries and affiliated companies, provides telecommunications services,” the petition said. It said DirecTV is also not a TSP, but a “holding company that, through its subsidiaries and affiliated companies, provides satellite digital television services.” The combination of AT&T’s national broadband networks with DirecTV’s “programming expertise, technologies and services ... will create a strong competitor that delivers consumers an attractive combination of broadband, video and wireless services,” said the acquirer. The deal “will allow AT&T to expand and enhance its deployment of both wireline and fixed wireless broadband substantially, primarily to underserved rural areas,” the petition said. If the PSC takes up the case, AT&T asked that it issue a decision within 15 days of June 20. A DirecTV spokesman said state regulatory approvals may be needed in Arizona, Hawaii and Louisiana. AT&T didn’t respond to our inquiry. Spokespeople for the Arizona and Hawaii PUCs said no petitions have been filed in those states. Observers see the deal being approved if it’s seen as a horizontal acquisition (CD May 16 p9).