FCC Wireless Bureau Chief Rick Kaplan met with top T-Mobile...
FCC Wireless Bureau Chief Rick Kaplan met with top T-Mobile USA executives at the carrier’s Bellevue, Wash., offices last week to talk about the company’s concerns about the Verizon Wireless/cable AWS deals, said an ex parte filing. Attending for T-Mobile…
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were CEO Philipp Humm, General Counsel Dave Miller, Chief Technology Officer Neville Ray and Senior Vice President Tom Sugrue. “In particular, the T-Mobile Representatives discussed the fact that, unlike T-Mobile and other wireless carriers, Verizon Wireless has not used its existing AWS spectrum in any way in the six years it has held the licenses, and that the instant transactions would add even more AWS spectrum to Verizon Wireless’ unused spectrum inventory,” the filing said (http://xrl.us/bm4umd). “They noted that given this dismal track record on utilization of its current AWS spectrum, it would make no sense, and would be inconsistent with the Commission’s charge to ensure that spectrum transfers serve the public interest, to allow Verizon to acquire additional AWS licenses, especially at this time of an industry-wide spectrum crunch.” “Verizon Wireless’ purchase will put unused spectrum into the hands of millions of consumers who will use it for high-quality wireless broadband service on Verizon’s 4G LTE-enabled smartphones, tablets, and other devices,” Verizon said in response. “T-Mobile’s arguments ignore these facts and the needs of consumers and instead ask the FCC to second-guess the workings of the private commercial secondary market. That is not the purpose of the FCC’s review."