US: FCC halts T-Mobile, Sprint merger review

The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday halted its review of a $26 billion merger between T-Mobile and Sprint after the companies submitted new information on their integration plans in March.
“When applicants have made substantial new submissions in support of their transactions after their initial applications, the Commission typically has sought additional comment from the public,” the agency wrote in a filing. “The Commission therefore is stopping the clock as of today.”

The FCC said it typically allows for additional public input after “substantial new submissions” by the applicants. The FCC said it expects to resume the “shot clock,” at the current Day 122 on April 4.

T-Mobile and Sprint in separate statements called the FCC decision “a positive step” that the FCC is “so deeply engaged in understanding this transaction and our recent filing, and we completely understand their desire” to stop the clock “to fully review the merits of our merger.”

Full Content: Bloomberg

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