FCC Restarts Review of EchoStar-Hughes Deal
Federal regulators restarted a review of the proposed $26-billion merger between satellite television company EchoStar Communications Corp. and Hughes Electronics Corp.
Littleton, Colo.-based EchoStar, which offers Dish Network, and Hughes, the parent of DirecTV, are seeking government approval for a merger that would create the largest pay-TV service in the country.
The Federal Communications Commission in March halted a review of whether the merger would hurt competition in the industry. The FCC said it needed more financial records to proceed. The agency said Tuesday the companies had provided the records and the review is scheduled to be completed in about 100 days.
A spokesman for Hughes said the company is confident the deal will be closed by year end.
Both companies have said the merger would expand high-speed Internet access for rural residents, whose high-speed access lags behind urban areas.
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