The Feds are expected to rule on the latest telecom distribution mega-merger in the next few days, but not before rivals do some last-minute cage rattling.

Phone giant AT&T and national satellite operator DirecTV are expecting the OK for their $49 billion tie-up from the Federal Communications Commission any day now, but cable operators want some conditions to protect them from rising sports costs.

In an ex-parte submission, the American Cable Association, which represents hundreds of regional cable operators, wants to see the FCC provide them some protection from big price increases by DirecTV-owned regional sports networks.

DirecTV owns Roots Sports Network, which operates in the Northwest, Pittsburgh, the Southwest and Rocky Mountain region.

Collectively, they are expected to earn $499 million in affiliate revenue, according to SNL Kagan.

The channels cost distribution partners from $2 to $3.77 per subscriber per month. Roots Sports Southwest, for example, hosts the NBA’s Houston Rockets and MLB’s Houston Astros, making it a must-have for local cable operators.

“We have been very concerned that DirecTV will soon start acting on its incentive to extract higher prices from us in our next carriage talks,” read a letter signed by 27 cable operators and sent to FCC Chairman Thomas Wheeler on Thursday.

AT&T and DirecTV have already agreed to offer low-cost stand-along broadband to low-income households in order to push through regulatory approval.

While Comcast faced a slew of negative press surrounding its abandoned attempt to acquire Time Warner Cable, the AT&T/DirecTV get-together has been a quieter process.

“I am not a fan of the transaction, it is more media consolidation. I see it as elimination of competition in the MVPD market,” Former FCC Commissioner Michael J. Copps, told The Post.

DirecTV declined comment on the filing.