Pleading Cycle Established on Verizon/T-Mobile Spectrum Swap

The FCC released a pleading cycle on a proposed deal in which T-Mobile and Verizon would trade various AWS-1 and PCS licenses as they balance their spectrum portfolios. The licenses involved cover 92 counties in all or parts of 41 cellular market areas, the FCC said Tuesday. “The Applicants indicate that the intra-market exchanges involve equal amounts of spectrum such that neither Applicant would increase its spectrum holdings in the particular market,” the FCC said. “The Applicants further assert that the inter-market exchanges, which would increase spectrum holdings in particular markets, would add capacity and improve data throughput speeds.” Petitions to deny are due Jan. 5; oppositions, Jan. 15; and replies, Jan. 23. The FCC also sought comment Tuesday on the proposed sale of a single 700 MHz A-block license in West Virginia from McBride Spectrum Partners to Hardy Cellular, a subsidiary of U.S. Cellular. Petitions to deny are due Jan. 20; oppositions, Jan. 30; and replies, Feb. 6.