FCC Restarts T-Mobile/Sprint Shot Clock as Legere Promises More Jobs
The FCC restarted the 180-day informal shot clock on its review of T-Mobile buying Sprint Thursday, at day 122. It paused the shot clock in early March, seeking additional comment on new data from the companies (see 1903070045). The 4Competition…
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Coalition said none of the late data submissions by the two carriers makes a bad deal better. The group said: “The evidence in the record is clear: None of these submissions change the reality that this merger would mean more concentration, less competition, and higher prices for millions of American consumers. As the shot clock resumes, we look forward to the completion of the thorough review process and, ultimately, the rejection of this merger.” Completion of the deal would mean more jobs, from the beginning, T-Mobile CEO John Legere blogged Thursday. “This merger is all about creating new, high-quality, high-paying jobs, and the New T-Mobile will be jobs-positive from Day One and every day thereafter. That’s not just a promise. That’s not just a commitment.” The combined company will create nearly 5,600 new American customer care jobs by 2021, he said: “New T-Mobile will employ 7,500+ more care professionals by 2024 than the standalone companies would have.” A top T-Mobile official expressed optimism Thursday. “We are very optimistic about the combination and its approval,” T-Mobile Chief Technology Officer Neville Ray said at the CTIA 5G summit (see 1904040048). The two companies are “moving the ball up the field,” he said. “We are scoring big points.” T-Mobile and Sprint reached agreement with Hawaii’s consumer advocate to clear the path to state OK, the carriers and advocate told the Public Utilities Commission. In a letter posted Thursday, they urged the PUC to adopt parties’ stipulation and OK the deal before June 1, the expected end date of the FCC’s review. The carriers agreed to “strive to deliver” 5G coverage to 90 percent of its Hawaii points of presence within three to five years of the deal closing, and annually meet with the consumer advocate and PUC to review T-Mobile Form 477 data through 2024. The carriers also need state OKs from California and Pennsylvania.