US: Senators urge FCC to delay T-Mobile-Sprint merger vote

Congressional Democrats are lobbying to have the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) delay an announced vote on whether to give the T-Mobile-Sprint merger  the final sign of approval, reported the Verge.

Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar along with Senate colleagues Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Elizabeth Warren (all currently running for president) were among those who signed a letter on Friday, August 16, asking for the FCC to “issue a public notice and seek public comment on the proposed merger” before moving to a vote.

The senators cited widespread concerns that the deal would actually hurt competition by further consolidating the wireless industry under the control of a handful of massive corporations.

“We have major antitrust concerns regarding the impact of the proposed T-Mobile/Sprint merger on consumers, competition, and the public interest,” the senators wrote in the letter. “We remain concerned about the lack of transparency in the FCC’s merger review process and the lack of certainty on whether this merger will protect competition and consumers.”

“For these reasons, we urge the FCC to issue a public notice and seek public comment on the proposed merger as altered by the Consent Decree and the terms set forth in Dish’s extension request letter prior to its consideration of the merger to determine if this transaction is in the public interest,” they added.

The revised merger deal that cleared Justice Department scrutiny would set up Di