Opponents of a deal by T-Mobile US to...

Opponents of a deal by T-Mobile US to buy Verizon Wireless’s 700 MHz A-block licenses for $3.3 billion have until Feb. 28 to file a petition to deny, under a pleading cycle released Friday by the FCC. Combined with the low-band spectrum T-Mobile already has in the Boston area, T-Mobile said it will have low-band spectrum in 21 of the 30 top U.S. markets once the sale is culminated (CD Jan 7 p1). “The Applicants assert that the proposed transactions would provide T-Mobile with low-band spectrum associated with significant population coverage for the first time,” said a public notice from the FCC (http://bit.ly/1fEWpxb). “According to the Applicants, T-Mobile expects that its acquisition of this low-band spectrum would increase the reliability, performance, and coverage of its network in specific markets, particularly improving in-building penetration in urban areas and coverage in suburban and rural areas.” Oppositions are due March 10, replies March 17.