The Department of Justice said Wednesday that the Federal Communications Commission should give “considerable weight” to competition concerns when deciding whether to expand the block of wireless spectrum reserved for smaller carriers in a coming auction.
The size of the reserve is the subject of a public fight between T-Mobile and the two largest players in wireless, AT&T and Verizon.
The FCC is preparing to auction off a significant block of spectrum, the airwaves that carry signals and data to cellphones. Last year, commissioners reserved 30 megahertz for smaller carriers.
But T-Mobile has said that the reserve should be 40 megahertz. It argues that a reserve of that size will allow two, rather than one, smaller carriersto get enough spectrum to compete with AT&T and Verizon — improving competition in the wireless market.
In the Wednesday letter, the chief of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice seemed supportive of T-Mobile’s case.
“The Department recognizes that the Commission must balance competing policy priorities in setting the appropriate reserve levels,” said Assistant Attorney General William Baer in the letter.
Full content: CNet
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
T-Mobile’s Acquisition of Ka’ena Corporation Receives FCC Approval
Apr 26, 2024 by
CPI
UK Regulator Announces Two New Senior Executive Appointments
Apr 26, 2024 by
CPI
Paramount Global and Skydance Media Near Merger Deal, Eyeing CEO Change
Apr 26, 2024 by
CPI
BHP Unveils £31bn Mining Megamerger Proposal with Anglo American
Apr 25, 2024 by
nhoch@pymnts.com
ByteDance Prefers Shutdown Over Sale of TikTok Amid US Ban Threats
Apr 25, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Economics of Criminal Antitrust
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Navigating Economic Expert Work in Criminal Antitrust Litigation
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
The Increased Importance of Economics in Cartel Cases
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
A Law and Economics Analysis of the Antitrust Treatment of Physician Collective Price Agreements
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Information Exchange In Criminal Antitrust Cases: How Economic Testimony Can Tip The Scales
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI