Federal regulators slapped a $100 million fine on AT&T (T) on Wednesday for misleading customers about unlimited mobile data plans, taking the action in part based on net neutrality rules adopted in 2010. The Federal Communications Commission’s fine comes amid the agency’s review of AT&T’s proposed acquisition of satellite TV broadcaster DirecTV Group (DTV). It’s been expected that the FCC will require AT&T to accept net neutrality, also called
DirecTV Group’s (DTV) Q4 profit and U.S. subscribers additions topped estimates, though revenue growth continued slowing ahead of the satellite TV firm’s planned merger with AT&T. DirecTV early Thursday said it earned $1.53 per share, the same as in Q4 2013, as revenue rose 3.8% to $8.92 billion. Analysts had modeled EPS of $1.39 on revenue of $8.91 billion. El Segundo, Calif.-based DirecTV added 149,000 U.S. subscribers, up from 93,000 in the
Dish Network (DISH) isn’t going to hit the jackpot anytime soon in terms of selling off its radio spectrum for a tidy profit, says RBC Capital Markets, which downgraded the satellite TV broadcaster’s stock on Monday. AT&T (T), which is in the process of acquiring DirecTV Group (DTV), and Verizon Communications (VZ), are in no rush to pay a premium for Dish Network’s airwaves, says Jonathan Atkin, an analyst at RBC Capital. “We are downgrading Dish