AT&T response to DOJ filing in Bell South McCaw motion

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. -- January 5, 1994 -- AT&T issued the following statement today in response to inquiries from the media for comments on the Department of Justice's filing in support of a BellSouth motion in Federal District Court:

"Today, the Department of Justice filed a response supporting Bell South's motion that AT&T requires a Modified Final Judgment (MFJ) waiver before it can acquire McCaw's interests in certain non-wireline cellular franchises where Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs) are majority owners. AT&T still believes that such a waiver is not required.

Even if such a waiver were required, we would expect there to be no significant problem in getting it quickly approved. The purpose of the MFJ restriction was merely to prevent AT&T from reacquiring the local exchange assets it had just divested. These cellular operations, in contrast, are businesses that the RBOCs weren't even involved in at the time of divestiture.

We remain confident that there is no impediment to closing the AT&T/McCaw merger. As of year end, we have received all necessary state approvals, except California. We are now awaiting only:

• The Department of Justice's review of the merger under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act.
• The review by the Federal Communications Commission of AT&T/McCaw applications for transfer of control over McCaw radio licenses.
• Approval by the California Public Service Commission.

We anticipate completion of the merger by mid-year 1994.