AT&T has applied for regulatory permission to acquire three spectrum licences in the 700 MHz band in three states, and two A block licences in Illinois.
In both cases, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said it will conduct an ‘enhanced factor’ review because the deals will give the telco control of more than a third of the available sub-1 GHz spectrum in the various licence areas.
In a filing published late last week the FCC revealed that AT&T has agreed to acquire three 700-MHz licences covering parts of Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia, from East Kentucky Network.
The companies involved have not shared the value of the proposed deal, which, if approved, will give AT&T 12 MHz of spectrum in the 700 MHz band in 20 counties. AT&T will use the additional spectrum to boost capacity and "better accommodate its overall growth," the FCC filing said.
On completion of the deal, AT&T will hold between 113 MHz and 145 MHz of spectrum in each of the three markets, including 43 MHz-55 MHz of sub-1 GHz frequencies.
The enhanced factor review comes into play when a company holds a third or more of the suitable and available sub-1 GHz in a single market. The transaction would give AT&T more than 45 MHz of the 134 MHz of usable sub-1 GHz spectrum in two of the three markets, the FCC said.
Opponents of the deal have until 22 June to make their objections.
Also last week, AT&T moved to acquire spectrum licences in two Illinois markets, triggering a similar response from the FCC.
The telco has brokered a deal with Cellular Properties Inc. to acquire – for an undisclosed sum – two A block spectrum licences and associated point-to-point microwave licences.
Amongst other things, AT&T said the deal would enable it to expand its network capacity and coverage quickly in rural areas, as well as reducing roaming costs.
The deal would grant AT&T 25 MHz of spectrum in 11 counties across the two markets, leaving it with 31 MHz and 68 MHz o f sub-1 GHz spectrum respectively in the two markets, again triggering the enhanced factor requirement.
The deadline for objections to the deal is 19 June.
