T-Mobile/Sprint Cleared by California 2 Weeks After Closing

T-Mobile/Sprint got its final OK, as the California Public Utilities Commission voted 5-0 Thursday for a revised proposal that reasserted the agency’s authority to review the deal while adjusting some conditions.

The carriers closed April 1 without CPUC clearance but later agreed to pause consolidating California operations until commissioners voted. The carriers claimed CPUC lacked authority over wireless transactions, and that review of a Sprint wireline transfer was no longer needed because Sprint moved customers to VoIP.

“We very fundamentally disagree on this point” of jurisdiction, said assigned Commissioner Cliff Rechtschaffen at Thursday’s webcast meeting. T-Mobile/Sprint was a “tough case,” but Rechtschaffen ultimately decided benefits would outweigh possible competitive harms if the CPUC added enforceable conditions on state LifeLine and other things, he said.