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“Dish and AT&T
aren’t direct competitors, and at the end of the
day, the government wants to see spectrum used,”
King said in an interview with Bloomberg News.
“It’s highly unlikely regulators would block two
AT&T deals in row.”
Dish Network shares yesterday jumped nine
percent on the speculation, although both Dish
and AT&T refused to comment on the idea.
AT&T wants more spectrum to offer wireless and
other services for the growing number of people
who use smartphone and tablets such as the iPad.
Rival telco Verizon signed a spectrum deal with
four cable companies this month, giving AT&T
greater motivation to get its own deal done.
In addition to the spectrum rights, AT&T would
get Dish Network's 14 million satellite TV
customers and perhaps be able to end its own TV
service, called U-Verse.