Verizon said it plans to use the new frequencies for expanding its LTE services. The company will also go ahead with plans to sell its 700 MHz lower A and B block spectrum licences. It said it's already received over 65 expressions of interest for the frequencies.
Similar to the approval granted earlier by the Department of Justice, the FCC added a number of conditions to its decison. These include requirements for Verizon to quickly roll out services in the AWS spectrum acquired from the cable companies, offer other companies access to data roaming on its network and report regularly on the evolution of its DSL customer base.
In addition, the FCC said it will open a docket to accept any consumer complaints over Verizon's joint marketing deal with the cable operators, which is subject to numerous limitations in the DoJ order.
The spectrum agreement, first announced in December 2011, will see Verizon buy frequencies for a total USD 3.7 billion from Time Warner Cable, Comcast, Bright House Networks and Cox Communications. As a condition of the deal, Verizon will also swap some of its own spectrum with T-Mobile USA and Leap Wireless.
