U.S. regulators will decide on review of AT&T, Time Warner deal - White House

An AT&T sign is seen outside a branch in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, U.S., October 24, 2016. REUTERS/Jim Young

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (Reuters) - The White House on Monday said it will be up to independent federal regulators to decide whether to carry out a formal review of AT&T Inc's planned acquisition of Time Warner Inc . "Any decision to review the deal would be made by regulatory officials at the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters in a briefing. "Certainly when you consider the size of the deal ... I don't think anybody would be surprised if they announced a review," Earnest said. "The president would hope and expect that regulators would carefully consider the potential impact of this deal on consumers." (Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by Bill Rigby)