CEO John Legere and others from T-Mobile argued for the company’s buy of Sprint in a meeting with FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks, said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 18-197. The executives said the company’s “world-leading 5G network will cover the country and deliver transformative services to all Americans, including those on prepaid and Lifeline plans.” They said "the massive capacity and lower costs of the network will result in lower prices for consumers and opportunities for MVNOs.” An accompanying presentation said without the transaction, in 2024, T-Mobile’s network will be “broad and thin,” Sprint’s “deep but narrow.” Together, the network will be “broad and deep.” The 4Competition Coalition, meanwhile, opposed the transaction in a meeting with an aide to Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. “This merger would consolidate the nation’s wireless market from four to just three carriers, lead to price increases for virtually all wireless customers, substantially raise wholesale rates, and cause significant job losses -- all while failing to deliver the promised benefits of accelerated 5G deployment or expanded rural coverage,” the group said. Representatives of the Communications Workers of America, Consumer Reports, Dish Network, Incompas, New America’s Open Technology Institute, Next Century Cities and Writers Guild of America West attended. Legere blogged Wednesday that the new T-Mobile will be good for business customers, who haven’t benefited from changes in wireless pricing. “Two-year service contracts, bill shock, data buckets, overage penalties, and so many more punitive practices” are still common, Legere said. “Millions of businesses are still on a two-year service contract … and even more are still on limited data buckets. Worse, the Carriers’ pricing for businesses is still a secret, so you have no idea if you’re getting a good deal or getting screwed (pro tip: you’re probably getting screwed).”

Citing the U.S. "race to 5G," Incompas wants the FCC to "deny USTelecom’s petition" on unbundled network elements forbearance (see 1905060025), Incompas CEO Chip Pickering and a representative from Allstream told Commissioner Mike O'Rielly. "Networks being built using unbundled network elements as a bridge to fiber support 5G, in addition to gigabit-speed broadband service to small businesses and residential users," Incompas wrote, posted Tuesday in dockets including 18-141. It said companies using UNEs as such a bridge "are building more fiber in the areas they operate than either the incumbent or cable." A USTelecom spokesperson emailed Wednesday that its senior vice president-advocacy and regulatory affairs “Patrick Halley’s most recent blog and filing on Monday reinforces the policy rationale and facts supporting USTelecom’s UNE forbearance petition.” Wednesday, Allstream owner Zayo agreed to be taken private (see 1905080021).

Citing the U.S. "race to 5G," Incompas wants the FCC to "deny USTelecom’s petition" on unbundled network elements forbearance (see 1905060025), Incompas CEO Chip Pickering and a representative from Allstream told Commissioner Mike O'Rielly. "Networks being built using unbundled network elements as a bridge to fiber support 5G, in addition to gigabit-speed broadband service to small businesses and residential users," Incompas wrote, posted Tuesday in dockets including 18-141. It said companies using UNEs as such a bridge "are building more fiber in the areas they operate than either the incumbent or cable." A USTelecom spokesperson emailed Wednesday that its senior vice president-advocacy and regulatory affairs “Patrick Halley’s most recent blog and filing on Monday reinforces the policy rationale and facts supporting USTelecom’s UNE forbearance petition.” Wednesday, Allstream owner Zayo agreed to be taken private (see 1905080021).

Citing the U.S. "race to 5G," Incompas wants the FCC to "deny USTelecom’s petition" on unbundled network elements forbearance (see 1905060025), Incompas CEO Chip Pickering and a representative from Allstream told Commissioner Mike O'Rielly. "Networks being built using unbundled network elements as a bridge to fiber support 5G, in addition to gigabit-speed broadband service to small businesses and residential users," Incompas wrote, posted Tuesday in dockets including 18-141. It said companies using UNEs as such a bridge "are building more fiber in the areas they operate than either the incumbent or cable." A USTelecom spokesperson emailed Wednesday that its senior vice president-advocacy and regulatory affairs “Patrick Halley’s most recent blog and filing on Monday reinforces the policy rationale and facts supporting USTelecom’s UNE forbearance petition.” Wednesday, Allstream owner Zayo agreed to be taken private (see 1905080021).

CEO John Legere and others from T-Mobile argued for the company’s buy of Sprint in a meeting with FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks, said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 18-197. The executives said the company’s “world-leading 5G network will cover the country and deliver transformative services to all Americans, including those on prepaid and Lifeline plans.” They said "the massive capacity and lower costs of the network will result in lower prices for consumers and opportunities for MVNOs.” An accompanying presentation said without the transaction, in 2024, T-Mobile’s network will be “broad and thin,” Sprint’s “deep but narrow.” Together, the network will be “broad and deep.” The 4Competition Coalition, meanwhile, opposed the transaction in a meeting with an aide to Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. “This merger would consolidate the nation’s wireless market from four to just three carriers, lead to price increases for virtually all wireless customers, substantially raise wholesale rates, and cause significant job losses -- all while failing to deliver the promised benefits of accelerated 5G deployment or expanded rural coverage,” the group said. Representatives of the Communications Workers of America, Consumer Reports, Dish Network, Incompas, New America’s Open Technology Institute, Next Century Cities and Writers Guild of America West attended. Legere blogged Wednesday that the new T-Mobile will be good for business customers, who haven’t benefited from changes in wireless pricing. “Two-year service contracts, bill shock, data buckets, overage penalties, and so many more punitive practices” are still common, Legere said. “Millions of businesses are still on a two-year service contract … and even more are still on limited data buckets. Worse, the Carriers’ pricing for businesses is still a secret, so you have no idea if you’re getting a good deal or getting screwed (pro tip: you’re probably getting screwed).”

Attorneys general of 42 states said the FCC should adopt proposed rules for curbing spoofed robocalls. Commissioners approved the rulemaking 5-0 in February, implementing part of Ray Baum's Act (see 1902140039). Other commenters urged caution. “It is evident that the explosive growth of caller ID spoofing and robocalls is being driven primarily by scams,” the AGs replied, posted Monday in docket 18-335. Experts estimated by the end of 2018, U.S. consumers would have received 40 billion robocalls, the group said: “Unfortunately, the problem appears to have been even worse than predicted. The industry estimates that 47.8 billion robocalls were made in the U.S. in 2018, a 56.8 percent increase over 2017.” Incompas supported rules but urged the FCC to make sure they apply only to “illegitimate activity and instances of fraud without discriminating against legitimate uses and competition.” Competitive carriers offer “a wide range of legitimate use cases that are driven by consumer demands which must be considered both by the Commission and industry as the two aim to cooperatively develop solutions to the problems of illegal robocalls and malicious caller ID spoofing,” Incompas said. EZ Texting said the rules must be narrowly written to “target illegitimate spoofing while leaving legitimate caller ID modification intact.” In some legitimate cases, companies alter ID information, EZ Texting said. “Domestic violence shelters may need to alter their caller ID information to ensure the safety of domestic violence victims,” the company said: Ride-hailing services frequently use a “temporary phone number to facilitate communication between drivers and passengers, while protecting drivers and passengers from further contact after the ride has finished.”

USTelecom renewed its request the FCC OK the group's unbundled network elements (UNE) request of forbearance from requiring incumbent LECs unbundle and resell access to some of their networks. Commissioners approved parts of the association's petition last month, forbearing from a duplicative pole attachment rule and some long-distance service and other old reporting requirements, a USTelecom blog post noted Monday. In making that 5-0 vote, FCC members sought action on things like the UNE request, which if not acted on by Aug. 2 would be granted (see 1904120058). "Now it’s time to roll up our sleeves and tackle the rest of the Petition" rather than requiring ILECs sell access at "below-market rates set by regulators rather than the marketplace," blogged Patrick Halley, USTelecom senior vice president-advocacy and regulatory affairs. "After nearly a year, detractors have been unable to show why one-time 'incumbent' wireline providers, whose market shares have declined precipitously and who lag wireless and cable competitors, should continue to bear the weight of intrusive regulatory mandates that do not apply to their rivals," Halley filed Monday, in docket 18-141. The FCC declined to comment. Some groups have concerns about USTelecom's request (see 1806220027). Incompas called this "a brazen move" by "AT&T and Verizon’s trade association." USTelecom is trying to "revamp its initial filing for a competition cut off that will result in massive price hikes on broadband customers," Incompas said. The FCC should reject this, said Incompas CEO Chip Pickering.

USTelecom renewed its request the FCC OK the group's unbundled network elements (UNE) request of forbearance from requiring incumbent LECs unbundle and resell access to some of their networks. Commissioners approved parts of the association's petition last month, forbearing from a duplicative pole attachment rule and some long-distance service and other old reporting requirements, a USTelecom blog post noted Monday. In making that 5-0 vote, FCC members sought action on things like the UNE request, which if not acted on by Aug. 2 would be granted (see 1904120058). "Now it’s time to roll up our sleeves and tackle the rest of the Petition" rather than requiring ILECs sell access at "below-market rates set by regulators rather than the marketplace," blogged Patrick Halley, USTelecom senior vice president-advocacy and regulatory affairs. "After nearly a year, detractors have been unable to show why one-time 'incumbent' wireline providers, whose market shares have declined precipitously and who lag wireless and cable competitors, should continue to bear the weight of intrusive regulatory mandates that do not apply to their rivals," Halley filed Monday, in docket 18-141. The FCC declined to comment. Some groups have concerns about USTelecom's request (see 1806220027). Incompas called this "a brazen move" by "AT&T and Verizon’s trade association." USTelecom is trying to "revamp its initial filing for a competition cut off that will result in massive price hikes on broadband customers," Incompas said. The FCC should reject this, said Incompas CEO Chip Pickering.

Attorneys general of 42 states said the FCC should adopt proposed rules for curbing spoofed robocalls. Commissioners approved the rulemaking 5-0 in February, implementing part of Ray Baum's Act (see 1902140039). Other commenters urged caution. “It is evident that the explosive growth of caller ID spoofing and robocalls is being driven primarily by scams,” the AGs replied, posted Monday in docket 18-335. Experts estimated by the end of 2018, U.S. consumers would have received 40 billion robocalls, the group said: “Unfortunately, the problem appears to have been even worse than predicted. The industry estimates that 47.8 billion robocalls were made in the U.S. in 2018, a 56.8 percent increase over 2017.” Incompas supported rules but urged the FCC to make sure they apply only to “illegitimate activity and instances of fraud without discriminating against legitimate uses and competition.” Competitive carriers offer “a wide range of legitimate use cases that are driven by consumer demands which must be considered both by the Commission and industry as the two aim to cooperatively develop solutions to the problems of illegal robocalls and malicious caller ID spoofing,” Incompas said. EZ Texting said the rules must be narrowly written to “target illegitimate spoofing while leaving legitimate caller ID modification intact.” In some legitimate cases, companies alter ID information, EZ Texting said. “Domestic violence shelters may need to alter their caller ID information to ensure the safety of domestic violence victims,” the company said: Ride-hailing services frequently use a “temporary phone number to facilitate communication between drivers and passengers, while protecting drivers and passengers from further contact after the ride has finished.”

A group including Dish Network, small carriers, public interest and consumer groups and labor unions sent a letter to DOJ Antitrust Division Chief Makan Delrahim Thursday asking the department to block the T-Mobile/Sprint deal. T-Mobile and Sprint, meanwhile, had a key meeting at the DOJ Thursday to discuss their proposed transaction, industry officials said. “If allowed to proceed, this transaction would consolidate the nation’s wireless market from four to just three carriers, lead to price increases for virtually all wireless customers, substantially raise wholesale rates for smaller wireless carriers, and cause significant job losses -- all while failing to deliver the promised benefits of accelerated 5G deployment or expanded rural coverage,” the letter argues. “The parties have had more than 11 months to make a convincing argument that their deal is in the public interest and that it will not harm competition. To date, they have failed to make this case.” Among those signing on are the AFL-CIO, Common Cause, Communications Workers of America, Consumer Reports, The Greenlining Institute, Incompas, New America’s Open Technology Institute, Next Century Cities, the Open Markets Institute, Public Knowledge, the Rural Wireless Association and the Wireless ISP Association. The companies didn't comment. "An honest review of the facts clearly shows that this merger is in the best interest of American consumers -- the New T-Mobile will deliver the nation’s best 5G network, create more competition and drive jobs growth," A T-Mobile spokesperson said in response: "This opposition group is clearly focused on maintaining a status quo that benefits them, instead of truly improving things for consumers. We are confident the transaction will be judged on its merits."