T-Mobile US said the FCC Wireless Bureau approved the...

T-Mobile US said the FCC Wireless Bureau approved the carrier’s acquisition of Verizon Wireless’s 700 MHz A-block spectrum. The FCC issued its approval as part of a general release Wednesday of license transfer approvals. T-Mobile announced in January that it had reached a deal to buy the long-coveted licenses for $3.3 billion, including the transfer of $950 million worth of AWS and PCS spectrum (CD Jan 7 p1). The Department of Justice approved the application in February. The deal gives T-Mobile low-band spectrum in 21 of the top 30 U.S. markets, including New York, Los Angeles and Washington. The new spectrum covers an area with 158 million potential customers. T-Mobile “is pleased by the FCC’s prompt approval of our acquisition of 700 MHz A-Block spectrum, which will provide the company with low-band spectrum in a number of key markets across the country,” said Kathleen Ham, vice president-federal regulatory affairs, in a statement.