Microsoft has become the latest major backer to ask the FCC to approve the AT&T-DirecTV merger. This slightly left of field news comes as the 90+ member Minority Cellular Partners Coalition (MCPC) has filed its own petition to the regulator to block the deal on anti-competitive grounds, alongside think tank Public Knowledge. Microsoft says the $48.5 billion bid for DirecTV needs to be allowed as the acquisition is an important step in expanding US citizens’ access to the Internet – on the basis that AT&T has promised to expand its broadband footprint if the deal is accepted to cover an additional 13 million rural customers. The FCC needs to be convinced that the deal is in the public interest, and…