Federal regulators are close to approving AT&T's purchase of satellite service DirecTV in a $49-billion deal that would transform the phone giant into the nation's largest pay-TV operator.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler on Tuesday shared with his commission colleagues a proposed order that would approve a deal with conditions, according to senior FCC officials.
The four other FCC commissioners are expected to review the order before voting. Wheeler, one of three Democrats on the panel, appears to have enough support among the commissioners to bless the deal.
Final approval could come within a matter of days.