The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has sent a letter to T-Mobile US and Sprint, saying it needs more time to review the companies’ merger application. The FCC said it has paused the 180-day transaction shot clock to allow for “thorough staff and third-party review” of newly submitted materials. The merger was announced in April, with clearance filed to the FCC in June.
The deal has triggered a varied reaction, with consumer groups saying it will reduce competition, unions saying it will result in over 30,000 jobs lost across the US and rivals such as Dish Network saying the companies are overstating the benefits of the merger. The New York attorney general’s office wants to see what effect the transaction would have on New York consumers while US Congress members have expressed caution regarding Sprint parent Softbank’s ties with Huawei .
