Will We Get More Time to Weigh-In on T-Mobile-Sprint Deal?

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Several associations believe the FCC should pause its review of the proposed T-Mobile-Sprint merger, until the carriers “describe the extensive spectrum aggregation” that will occur if they combine. At the very least, the Commission should extend the public comment period, say 11 associations, including the Rural Wireless Association, NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association, the Communications Workers of America and eight others.

“The proposed merger will have a significant impact on wireless consumers, workers, and the deployment of next-generation wireless technology, especially in America’s rural markets,” they tell the agency. They want the FCC to require T-Mobile and Sprint “to clearly identify any spectrum overages, listing for each county the New T-Mobile’s total spectrum holdings” in each market. What the carriers have provided so far is in PDF format, rather than a spreadsheet, leaving the public “with the time consuming task of calculating spectrum aggregation by hand in more than 3,200 local markets covering 79 pages of data,” according to the associations in their filing.

Currently, petitions to deny the deal are due to the FCC by next Monday, August 27. Granting an extension until September 17 is warranted, argue the associations, because of the complexity of the transaction and the glut of overlapping proceedings at the FCC (including competition and broadband deployment). All this happening “particularly during the dog days of summer,” means there’s the risk the public may not be able to weigh in on the transaction, they contend.

August 21, 2018

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