Senior administration officials say they stand by those decisions but many conceded the announcements could have been handled with more political care -- offset at the time by steps that would be viewed more favorably by environmental groups.
And, the department said that any potential entry from a new mobile wireless telecommunications services provider would be unable to offset the transaction's anticompetitive effects because it would be difficult, time-consuming and expensive, requiring spectrum licenses and the construction of a network.
Some operators including Bharti recently increased their telephone-call charges for the first time in several years and cut down discounts to offset rising costs.
Moments like that help offset the somewhat self-congratulatory nature of the film, especially in how it halos the white people of the time who happen to have anti-segregationist attitudes.