The FCC has asked for more clarification on Verizon Wireless’s proposed acquisitions of spectrum from cablecos in two deals worth a total of over US$3.9bn, including the plans for the companies to resell each other’s services. In letters sent to…
The FCC has asked for more clarification on Verizon Wireless’s proposed acquisitions of spectrum from cablecos in two deals worth a total of over US$3.9bn, including the plans for the companies to resell each other’s services.
In letters sent to Verizon Wireless and Time Warner Cable, the head of the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Rick Kaplan, said the commission required additional clarifications from the companies in order to complete its review of the two deals.
The FCC asked for further information on a wide range of issues relating to the deals, including the valuation of the spectrum, Verizon Wireless’s bandwidth requirements going forward, and the plans by the companies to resell services.
Responses are due by 22 March.
A Verizon Wireless spokesman said the companies expect the FCC’s review will come to a positive conclusion within the 180-day period set out for the regulator’s analysis of the spectrum transfer.
Verizon Wireless announced the two spectrum deals in December.
The first of the deals involves the US$3.6bn acquisition of spectrum from SpectrumCo – a JV of Bright House Networks, Comcast and Time Warner Cable – while the other is the US$315m acquisition of spectrum from Cox Communications.
Earlier this week, Verizon’s rivals Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile called for the FCC to stop the clock on its review until more information had been disclosed.
