The US FCC asked AT&T to provide evidence of the spectrum shortage the company cited as a reason for its proposed USD 39 billion takeover of T-Mobile USA. In a request posted on its website, the regulator asked AT&T to provide "all plans, analyses and reports discussing the relative network spectrum capacity constraints of the company." AT&T in its 21 April filing with the FCC seeking approval of the merger said it "faces network spectrum and capacity constraints more severe than those of any other wireless provider", Bloomberg reports. The FCC and Justice Department are vetting the deal in a review AT&T executives have said will take about a year. "We will provide the FCC with all the data it needs," Michael Balmoris, a Washington-based spokesman for AT&T, said. The information request is "standard procedure" as the agency reviews a merger, he said. The FCC asked for AT&T's presentations to bankers and for details of the breakup fee associated with the deal for the Deutsche Telekom unit. AT&T in its 21 April statement said the merger will create "thousands of jobs." The FCC asked for "all plans, analyses, and reports discussing the creation or loss of jobs."
