5G Technology World

  • 5G Technology and Engineering
  • FAQs
  • Apps
  • Devices
  • IoT
  • RF
  • Radar
  • Wireless Design
  • Learn
    • 5G Videos
    • Ebooks
    • EE Training Days
    • FAQs
    • Learning Center
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Webinars/Digital Events
  • Handbooks
    • 2024
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
  • Resources
    • Design Guide Library
    • EE World Digital Issues
    • Engineering Diversity & Inclusion
    • Engineering Training Days
    • LEAP Awards
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

AT & T Pulls T-Mobile Application to Avoid FCC Hearing

By Staff Author | November 28, 2011

AT&T is threatening to sue the FCC if it moves forward with a plan to hold a hearing on the troubled T-Mobile USA deal after the operator withdrew its application for the $39 billion merger.

AT&T withdrew its FCC application to acquire T-Mobile’s spectrum licenses on Nov. 23, one day after agency Chairman Julius Genachowski said the agency was unable to approve the transaction and would circulate a draft order to send it to an administrative hearing, a major setback for the deal.

AT&T says it pulled the merger before the FCC voted on the order, preventing the agency from moving forward with its plans for a hearing.

“We have every right to withdraw our merger from the FCC, and the FCC has no right to stop us,” AT&T senior executive vice president and general counsel Wayne Watts said in a Nov. 25 post on the company’s official blog. “Any suggestion the agency might do otherwise would be an abuse of procedure which we would immediately challenge in court.”

The FCC could not be immediately reached for comment. Its proposed hearing would not begin until the conclusion of the Justice Department’s antitrust lawsuit against the deal. The DOJ’s trial is set to begin in February.

AT&T and T-Mobile parent company Deutsche Telekom said in a joint statement that the decision to pull the FCC applications would allow them to focus on the DOJ complaint.

“AT&T Inc. and Deutsche Telekom AG are continuing to pursue the sale of Deutsche Telekom’s U.S. wireless assets to AT&T and are taking this step to facilitate the consideration of all options at the FCC and to focus their continuing efforts on obtaining antitrust clearance for the transaction from the Department of Justice either through the litigation pending before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Case No. 1:11-cv-01560 (ESH) or alternate means,” the companies said.  “As soon as practical, AT&T Inc. and Deutsche Telekom AG intend to seek the necessary FCC approval.”

AT&T will take a $4 billion charge this quarter to reflect the potential multibillion break-up fee owed to Deutsche Telekom if the deal falls through.

Bloomberg reported last week that AT&T may sell off a “significantly larger portion of assets than it had initially expected” to get the DOJ to approve its merger with T-Mobile.

The report, which cited an unnamed source familiar with the plan, said the divestitures could comprise as much as 40 percent of T-Mobile’s assets.


Filed Under: Carriers

 

Next Article

← Previous Article
Next Article →

Related Articles Read More >

eSIM
eSIM eases changing carriers for phones and IoT
QoE and QoS comparison
Benchmarking in 5G: More important than ever
iPhone 12
I bought a 5G phone, now what?
6G
Key takeaways from 6G Symposium

Featured Contributions

  • Overcome Open RAN test and certification challenges
  • Wireless engineers need AI to build networks
  • Why AI chips need PCIe 7.0 IP interconnects
  • circuit board timing How timing and synchronization improve 5G spectrum efficiency
  • Wi-Fi 7 and 5G for FWA need testing
More Featured Contributions

EE TECH TOOLBOX

“ee
Tech Toolbox: 5G Technology
This Tech Toolbox covers the basics of 5G technology plus a story about how engineers designed and built a prototype DSL router mostly from old cellphone parts. Download this first 5G/wired/wireless communications Tech Toolbox to learn more!

EE LEARNING CENTER

EE Learning Center
“5g
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for EE professionals.

Engineering Training Days

engineering
“bills
5G Technology World
  • Enews Signup
  • EE World Online
  • DesignFast
  • EDABoard Forums
  • Electro-Tech-Online Forums
  • Microcontroller Tips
  • Analogic Tips
  • Connector Tips
  • Engineer’s Garage
  • EV Engineering
  • Power Electronic Tips
  • Sensor Tips
  • Test and Measurement Tips
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy

Search 5G Technology World