WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission has asked Alltel Corp. to provide additional information in regard to its pending $6 billion acquisition of Western Wireless Corp. The request, which was filed March 1 and released yesterday, follows a similar request by the Department of Justice earlier this month.
The FCC requests include additional information about Alltel’s wireline and wireless services, as well as Western Wireless’ international operations. In addition, the request seeks information on Alltel’s claim that the acquisition will result in $600 million of operational synergies.
The FCC filing also asks for more detail on potential overlapping operations and how the deal will provide better coverage and services to both operators’ subscribers. Requests for specific market information are centered on areas of Nebraska, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Texas, South Dakota, Colorado and Wyoming, where Alltel and Western Wireless currently control overlapping spectrum licenses.
The information requests appear similar to previous FCC filings relating to Cingular Wireless L.L.C.’s acquisition of AT&T Wireless Services Inc., which was eventually approved following some minor network divestitures. Analysts said they expect the deal will be approved with few if any divestitures.
Alltel had previously stated that it expects the deal to be approved by mid-year.
