The U.S. Department of Justice approved the proposed acquisition of AT&T Wireless by Cingular Wireless, a joint venture of SBC Communications and BellSouth. Conditions for the approval include the divestiture by the merged firm of AT&T Wireless’s mobile wireless services business, including spectrum and customer contracts, in parts of 11 states–Connecticut, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, Michigan, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. The transaction is also subject to review by the FCC.
Cingular officials continue to expect the transaction to close later this quarter. http://www.usdoj.gov