Media Contact: 
Kim Hart, (202) 418-8191
Kim.hart@fcc.gov
For Immediate Release
STATEMENT OF FCC CHAIRMAN TOM WHEELER ON RECOMMENDATION
CONCERNING AT&T/DIRECTV TRANSACTION
Washington, July 21, 2015 – In light of news reports concerning the AT&T/DirecTV 
transaction, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler issued the following statement:  
“An order recommending that the AT&T/DirecTV transaction be approved with conditions has 
circulated to the Commissioners. The proposed order outlines a number of conditions that will 
directly benefit consumers by bringing more competition to the broadband marketplace. If the 
conditions are approved by my colleagues, 12.5 million customer locations will have access to a 
competitive high-speed fiber connection. This additional build-out is about 10 times the size of 
AT&T’s current fiber-to-the-premise deployment, increases the entire nation’s residential fiber 
build by more than 40 percent, and more than triples the number of metropolitan areas AT&T has 
announced plans to serve.
“In addition, the conditions will build on the Open Internet Order already in effect, addressing 
two merger-specific issues. First, in order to prevent discrimination against online video 
competition, AT&T will not be permitted to exclude affiliated video services and content from 
data caps on its fixed broadband connections. Second, in order to bring greater transparency to 
interconnection practices, the company will be required to submit all completed interconnection 
agreements to the Commission, along with regular reports on network performance.
“Importantly, we will require an independent officer to help ensure compliance with these and 
other proposed conditions. These strong measures will protect consumers, expand high-speed 
broadband availability, and increase competition.”
###
Office of Media Relations: (202) 418-0500
TTY: (888) 835-5322
Twitter: @FCC
www.fcc.gov/office-media-relations
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order 
constitutes official action.  See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).