AT&T: We'll play nice with net neutrality, just let us gobble DirecTV

Telco will submit to regulations, so long as it gets its way

AT&T will give in to net neutrality rules in the US – provided it is allowed to buy DirecTV.

The telco wants to gobble up DirecTV for $49bn, and the FCC (America's broadband regulator) wants the telco to obey new rules for an open internet.

According to the Washington Post, execs at AT&T are willing to drop their objections to the net neutrality order, and abide by the FCC's regulations, should the biz be allowed to go forward with its acquisition.

The deal between AT&T and DirecTV is opposed by rivals who claim the merger will create a telco monster with an unfair dominance over the market, and give AT&T a monopoly in the television, a claim AT&T has taken exception to.

A spokesperson for AT&T did not respond to a Reg request for comment on the matter.

AT&T has long been an opponent to the FCC's net neutrality rules, filing its opposition to the regulations with a federal appeals court.

Following the end of the Comcast/Time Warner merger talks, Netflix has turned its attention to the AT&T/DirecTV deal. AT&T, meanwhile, has argued that Netflix would benefit from the deal over the short term, saying that an acquisition would be a "plus" for the internet video giant. ®