Cisco completed buying Luxtera. The tech company said Wednesday night it paid $660 million in cash and assumed equity awards, as expected (see personals section of Dec. 20 issue). Luxtera is a semiconductor company whose silicon photonics are used by data centers, service providers and other customers.

Former FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn agreed to work as a paid adviser on T-Mobile’s proposed takeover of Sprint, she confirmed in an interview Monday. The Democrat had opposed some deals while at the FCC but voted in the 4-1 majority that approved Comcast/NBC Universal (see 1101190091). “I am advising T-Mobile/Sprint as they seek to accelerate the creation of an inclusive, nationwide 5G network, on how best to build a bridge across the digital divide,” Clyburn said. “Affordable broadband access is a critical priority of mine, it has been and always will be, particularly for those Americans who are underserved or currently have no viable options.” Clyburn noted other former government officials also signed on. Republicans including former Commissioner Robert McDowell and former NTIA administrators Nancy Victory and John Kneuer also have worked for the deal. Earlier Monday, T-Mobile CEO John Legere urged the FCC to “move forward expeditiously." His letter to Chairman Ajit Pai reassured that the deal won't mean higher prices. “Critics of our merger, largely employed by Big Telco and Big Cable, have principally argued that we are going to raise rates right after the merger closes,” he said in docket 18-197. “I want to reiterate, unequivocally, that New T-Mobile rates are NOT going to go up. Rather, our merger will ensure that American consumers will pay less and get more.” In a second filing Monday, the companies committed to keeping legacy rate plans in place for three years after the merger “or until better plans that offer a lower price or more data are made available, whichever occurs first.” The companies said plans could be adjusted to reflect “pass through” costs, such as increases in government taxes or fees. The 4Competition Coalition responded that "committing to not raise ‘rate plans’ for three years is an empty promise that does not provide any real price protection." The "pledge is riddled with loopholes and ensures that any network improvements will allow them to justify higher monthly bills," said the coalition that includes AFL-CIO, Communications Workers of America, Common Cause and other public interest groups, C Spire, Dish Network and NTCA. New Street’s Blair Levin told investors, meanwhile, DOJ apparently “never had to slow down its work in taking depositions, meaning that while the [federal] shutdown likely delayed the final resolution, the delay may not be as great as the 35 day shutdown." The FCC was on hold but "staff is working closely with the DOJ staff and can quickly come back up to speed,” he said: A House letter supporting approval (see 1901300044) was a positive for the deal, but a Feb. 13 House Commerce and Judiciary committees' hearing (see 1901280051) presents risks. Executives could say "things at odds with their filings or make other statements that could create problems,” Levin said. Another potential negative is the number of state investigations (see 1901040041), he said.

SiriusXM completed its $3.5 billion all-stock Pandora buyout, making it “the world's largest audio entertainment company,” it said Friday, as expected (see 1901300019). The combined company “now reaches more than 100 million people” across all its audio offerings, said CEO Jim Meyer. “That is a powerful platform for consumers, content creators and advertisers.”

U.S. antitrust authorities won't challenge CommScope buying Arris, the seller said Friday. The Hart-Scott Rodino Act waiting period recently expired and Arris shareholders approved the acquisition, expected to be completed by June 30, Arris said. FTC/DOJ OK was expected (see 1811080051). As is typical, the commission wouldn't tell us if it had approved the deal, worth about $7.4 billion. "We remain on track with the remaining regulatory requirements," emailed an Arris spokesperson.

Sprint, which argued for its takeover by T-Mobile based on concerns it will falter on its own, reported higher than expected revenue Thursday, but analysts said other numbers raised questions for the company. “We delivered solid financials, increased network investments as we prepare for our mobile 5G launch, and continued the digital transformation of the company,” said Sprint CEO Michel Combes. Sprint is poised to deploy regardless of whether the deal is approved, Combes said, but called the combination “the only path to delivering the breadth and depth of spectrum which will allow us to provide a truly consistent nationwide 5G experience to Americans.” Sprint upgraded thousands of macro sites to add LTE on 800 MHz, 1.9 GHz and 2.5 GHz, Combes said on a call with analysts. Sprint has installed 2.5 GHz on “roughly” 75 percent of macro sites, up from about 50 percent a year ago, he said. It “added 800 MHz to thousands of sites, primarily in the southwest market,” he said. It has 27,000 small cells on air, compared with 3,000 a year ago, he said. Sprint reported a net loss of $141 million on revenue of $8.4 billion. It had 309,000 net wireless adds but lost 26,000 postpaid and 40,000 prepaid phone customers. “Sprint’s strategy of balancing growth and profitability while we work toward regulatory approval of our T-Mobile merger is reflected” in the results, Combes said. Postpaid and prepaid subscriber losses were “a result of the company moving away from more aggressive pricing promotions, such as the company’s previous Cut Your Bill in Half promotion,” said Technology Business Research: The move to more conservative pricing “helps Sprint to improve” average revenue per unit but is “diminishing subscriber growth as Sprint’s reputation as the pricing leader in the U.S. wireless industry is its strongest differentiator against rivals.” While results "showed continued signs of stabilization for the business, we think Sprint will need more time before their standalone business can support the current valuation of the stock,” said New Street analyst Jonathan Chaplin. “To be constructive on the stand-alone business, we would need to see the benefits of their network investment driving better subscriber trends.” Craig Moffett of MoffettNathanson continues to predict T-Mobile/Sprint has a 50/50 shot at approval. “DOJ Antitrust [Division] chief Makan Delrahim was presumed to be the ultimate decision-maker for the Sprint/T-Mobile deal,” Moffett wrote investors. “But he and Attorney General nominee William Barr are seen, at best, to be adversaries, and, at worst, open enemies. Barr’s advocacy for AT&T/Time Warner put him at odds with Delrahim. Will Delrahim stay if Barr is confirmed?”

T-Mobile and Sprint said that combined, they would build five U.S. high-tech customer experience centers, starting with Overland Park, Kansas, where Sprint is headquartered. Each center would create an average of 1,000 jobs. The companies would add jobs at T-Mobile’s two existing centers, for a total of 7,500 in 2024. “The new Customer Experience Centers are one part of the New T-Mobile’s commitment to invest billions of dollars in creating new jobs and supporting infrastructure to bring world-class wireless,” they said Wednesday.

Pandora shareholders approved SiriusXM’s $3.5 billion all-stock buyout (see 1809240030), said Pandora Tuesday. Owners of about 75 percent of Pandora stock voted 97 yes at a special meeting, and the transaction is now expected to close soon, said the streaming media company. Pandora CEO Roger Lynch will leave at the closing, as will General Counsel Steve Bene, Chief Financial Officer Naveen Chopra and Chief Human Resources Officer Kristen Robinson. SiriusXM CEO Jim Meyer will head the combined entity, Pandora said. Some analysts wrongly predicted Pandora shareholders would reject the deal as "inadequate" (see 1809250021). SiriusXM reports 2018 results Wednesday before the markets open.

The House Commerce and Judiciary committees set a Feb. 13 hearing on T-Mobile's proposed purchase of Sprint, as expected (see 1901250004). That confirmed what communications sector lobbyists told us earlier Monday. The House Communications and House Judiciary's Antitrust subcommittee will jointly conduct the hearing, which will include testimony from Sprint Executive Chairman Marcelo Claure and T-Mobile CEO John Legere. The merger "would combine two of the four largest wireless carriers and the carriers with the largest numbers of low-income customers," said Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., Communications Chairman Mike Doyle, D-Pa., and Antitrust Chairman David Cicilline, D-R.I., in a news release. "We must hold this hearing to examine the effects on important issues like jobs, costs to consumers, innovation and competition." The hearing is "good news,” said Public Knowledge Vice President Chris Lewis in an interview. PK expects the committees would have a “full and serious discussion on the implications of the merger. We want Congress to help promote that discussion and raise concerns about issues and ask important questions of stakeholders.” The group was among 14 that wrote House Commerce and Judiciary Democratic leaders in November urging the hearing (see 1811280071). Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., and 12 other House lawmakers wrote Friday night in support of T-Mobile/Sprint. Both agencies should “carefully examine all dimensions of competition” in the communications market, “including investment, innovation, spectrum resources, the evolving nature of the wireless industry, and the prospect of expanded broadband deployment,” they wrote FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and DOJ Antitrust Division Chief Makan Delrahim.

Viacom will pay $340 million for streaming service Pluto TV, it said Tuesday evening. It said Pluto will operate as an independent subsidiary and the deal is expected to close in Q1. It said the Pluto deal will expand its presence in next-generation distribution platforms, give it access to Pluto's 12 million monthly users and help expand its advanced advertising business, while access to Viacom's content library will help accelerate its global growth and solidify it as top player in the free streaming video market.

Voxx Electronics agreed to buy all Crimestopper assets from Rockford, it said Thursday. It will add Crimestopper to its Omega Research & Development Technologies unit, which includes vehicle security and advanced driver-assistance system products. The deal is expected to close this month.