Mergers and Acquisitions Involving Domestic Wireline Carriers

The Wireline Competition Bureau is responsible for the staff review of mergers and acquisitions involving domestic wireline carriers. Under sections 214 and 310 of the Communications Act, carriers seeking to transfer direct or indirect control over certain authorizations and licenses must obtain prior approval from the Commission. The Commission will grant such approval only if it finds that the transfers are in the public interest.

A comprehensive list of transactions reviewed by the Wireline Competition Bureau is maintained by the Bureau’s Competition Policy Division. A list of all major transactions pending before the Commission is available on the Office of General Counsel’s Transaction Team web site. This site, which covers major mergers in all communications sectors, includes timelines and links to critical documents and comments surrounding the mergers.