T-Mobile Says It's Not an Apparent Target of MF-II Investigation; CFIUS OK Looms
T-Mobile denied it’s a target of an FCC investigation whether top wireless carriers submitted incorrect coverage maps (see 1812070048) for the Mobility Fund Phase II auction, responding to the Rural Wireless Association. “T-Mobile has not been contacted by the Commission…
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Timely, relevant coverage of court proceedings and agency rulings involving tariffs, classification, valuation, origin and antidumping and countervailing duties. Each day, Trade Law Daily subscribers receive a daily headline email, in-depth PDF edition and access to all relevant documents via our trade law source document library and website.
regarding the agency’s announced investigation into alleged violations of the MF-II 4G LTE data collection and has no reason to believe that T-Mobile is involved,” the carrier said in a Friday filing in docket 10-208. “RWA’s vague and irresponsible statements regarding T-Mobile’s MF-II maps are unsupported by any evidence and are patently false.” RWA said earlier T-Mobile in some cases appeared to report “its future 4G LTE coverage” rather than current coverage. New Street Research’s Blair Levin emailed investors that even if the allegations against T-Mobile are found to be true, they wouldn't affect FCC consideration of T-Mobile’s buy of Sprint. Levin also cited reports that Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. review of T-Mobile/Sprint is proceeding quickly, with approval likely in light of the companies’ agreement not to buy Huawei equipment. “If so, that seems to eliminate a small but material risk factor that had developed in light of the opposition expressed by a secretive organization named Protect America’s Wireless,” Levin said. Industry officials said Monday clearance of the deal by CFIUS appears imminent. A Monday report by the Economic Policy Institute said the deal would drive down wages. “Average weekly earnings for retail wireless workers would decline by between 1 and 3 percent in most affected labor markets, with earnings falling by as much as 7 percent in the most-affected labor markets,” said the report, paid for by Communications Workers of America. T-Mobile didn't comment.