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On November 18, 2005, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved the SBC Communications–AT&T Corp. and Verizon–MCI mergers. The SBC–AT&T approval was conditional: the CPUC found that the transaction would benefit consumers without harming competition only if the companies complied with the Commission’s requirements. SBC completed its acquisition of AT&T Corp. that same day and changed its name to AT&T Inc.
What California approved on November 18, 2005
The CPUC announced approvals for two separate transactions: SBC Communications’ acquisition of AT&T Corp. and Verizon’s merger with MCI. The Commission’s detailed decision concerned SBC’s transfer of control over AT&T’s California communications affiliates, connecting the parent-company acquisition to operations regulated in California. The CPUC’s announcement named both deals.
The CPUC also reported that the combined company had committed nearly $100 million to expanding broadband and advanced telecommunications access in underserved California communities. The announcement gives a rounded total rather than an itemized breakdown. That figure comes from the Commission’s November 18, 2005 release.
Why the SBC–AT&T approval was conditional
The Commission’s decision did not amount to an unconditional endorsement. It concluded that the merger, if the applicants complied with the adopted conditions, would produce net consumer benefits without adversely affecting competition in California telecommunications. The CPUC warned that it could not approve the merger if the companies declined to implement those requirements. The final decision sets out the Commission’s finding and conditions.
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CPUC President Michael R. Peevey said at the time: “These new entities will be strong competitors in the global telecommunications market, and California consumers stand to benefit.” That public rationale should be read alongside the decision’s specific, conditional finding. The cited materials do not establish the details of each condition or the companies’ later compliance.
When did California approve the SBC–AT&T merger?
The CPUC issued its approval on November 18, 2005. SBC completed the acquisition of AT&T Corp. on that same date. AT&T Corp. became a wholly owned SBC subsidiary, and SBC changed its corporate name to AT&T Inc. AT&T’s corporate history records the completion and name change.
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How this deal differs from SBC’s earlier Pacific Telesis merger
The SBC–AT&T acquisition was not SBC’s merger with Pacific Telesis. The CPUC approved the Pacific Telesis–SBC merger in 1997, finding economic benefits for ratepayers and the state and no likely adverse effect on competition in California. That was a separate transaction, years before the 2005 AT&T Corp. acquisition. The CPUC’s 1997 announcement covers the Pacific Telesis deal.
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CPUC historical material also notes SBC’s 1999 merger with Ameritech and its 2006 merger with BellSouth. Neither was one of the two mergers approved in the Commission’s November 18, 2005 announcement. The CPUC’s communications history provides that broader context.
Quick Recap
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