DOJ clears CenturyLink-Level 3 deal

The Justice Department has cleared CenturyLink’s $34 billion acquisition of former rival Level 3 Communications with requirements for divestiture of network assets in three U.S. metropolitan areas.

CenturyLink said Monday the Federal Communications Commission and California Public Utilities Commission are the remaining regulatory bodies to receive approval from for the deal that companies expect to close in mid-to-late October.

Seventeen states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico have cleared the transaction since it was first disclosed in October of last year.

Upon closure, the deal will create a federal market giant that includes the General Services Administration’s potential 10-year, $50 billion EIS telecommunications contract both CenturyLink and Level 3 received positions on in August.

Both companies view themselves as competitors on EIS and the market at-large without any collaboration or coordination, CenturyLink’s current federal lead Erich Sanchack told Washington Technology in September. Sanchack added there will be a process post-close to determine any overlap in terms of contracts and government workspaces.