FCC Okays T-Mobile/MetroPCS Merger
Genachowski Says Union Will Promote Competition
By: John Eggerton
Multichannel News
Mar 12 2013 - 2:58pm
http://www.multichannel.com/mobile/fcc-okays-t-mobilemetropcs-merger/142154
The FCC has approved the merger of T-Mobile and MetroPCS.
The National Association of Broadcasters had asked the FCC to approve
the T-Mobile/MetroPCS merger. That, according to an NAB source, was the
first time NAB has endorsed a wireless merger.
T-Mobile is one of the wireless carriers that the NAB teamed up with to
endorse a framework for the incentive auction band plan.
In a letter to FCC chairman Julius Genachowski, NAB president Gordon
Smith had urged the commission to approve the merger, saying it was
further evidence that the free market was the route to "purported
spectrum challenges."
Last October, T-Mobile and MetroPCS proposed a merger creating a $24.8
billion, 42.5 million subscriber company. T-Mobile is a subsidiary of
German company Deutsche Telekom.
The FCC and Justice last fall blocked AT&T's bid to buy T-Mobile, but
that involved one of the two dominant carriers heavying up, while this
deal could create a stronger competitor to AT&T and Verizon.
"With today's approval, America's mobile market continues to strengthen,
moving toward robust competition and revitalized competitors," said
Genachowski in a statement on the deal approval. "We are seeing billions
more in network investment, while the courts have upheld key FCC
decisions to accelerate broadband build-out, promote competition and
benefit consumers, including our broadband data roaming and pole
attachment rules. Today's action will benefit millions of American
consumers and help the U.S maintain the global leadership in mobile it
has regained in recent years."
The Justice Department also concluded its review of the deal, announcing
Tuesday that "the Antitrust Division has determined that the combination
of T-Mobile and MetroPCS is unlikely to harm consumers or substantially
lessen competition and has closed its investigation."
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