Free Republic

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - EchoStar Communications Corp. was dealt a potentially fatal blow on Thursday in its $16.2 billion bid to acquire rival satellite television provider Hughes Electronics when U.S. communications regulators moved to block the deal. The Federal Communications Commission unanimously voted to refer the deal to an administrative law judge for review -- a process that could take months -- and gave little hope that any remedies proposed by the companies would resolve their concerns. "Based on the record, the commission cannot find that this merger is in the public interest," FCC Chairman Michael Powell said at a...

Federal regulators are poised to block EchoStar Communications Corp.'s $18 billion acquisition of rival Hughes Electronics Corp. in a vote that could take place as early as Monday, people familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal. Barring a major, last-minute concession from the two satellite-television providers -- a prospect that many industry officials over the weekend said still was possible -- at least three of the four members of the Federal Communications Commission are set to cast votes rejecting the deal, according to people knowledgeable about the matter. FCC Chairman Michael Powell is among those opposing the...