WASHINGTON—The Bush administration today announced an overhaul of antitrust procedures and responsibilities, a move giving the Department of Justice full oversight of wireless services and equipment sectors.
The memorandum of agreement, which DoJ and Federal Trade Commission planned to announce Jan. 17 but postponed after congressional concerns were raised, divides antitrust responsibilities between the two agencies on an industry sector-by-sector basis and streamlines enforcement procedures.
In addition to the telecommunications industry, the Justice Department will oversee mergers in the computer software, media and entertainment, defense electronics industries.
Among the businesses assigned to the FTC are computer hardware, satellite manufacturing and launch vehicles.
Mergers and acquisitions in the wireless industry are expected to accelerate after the spectrum cap sunsets at the end of the year.
Antitrust overhaul puts wireless oversight in hands of DoJ
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