On May 23, 2022 the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (“WTB”) released three Public Notices announcing that it was establishing three new dockets to monitor T-Mobile, DISH, and Verizon’s compliance with conditions imposed in FCC Orders granting applications for the companies:
- T-Mobile-Sprint Transfer of Control: WTB opened WT Docket No. 22-211 entitled “Monitoring T-Mobile’s Compliance with Conditions Imposed in the T-Mobile Sprint Transfer of Control Order.” You may recall that in granting T-Mobile’s application for the transfer control of Sprint, the FCC required T-Mobile to comply with various promises T-Mobile had made as conditions to the grant to ensure that the proposed transaction served the public interest, including monitoring of nationwide 5G network deployment coverage requirements, meeting in-home broadband commitments, as well as verification and enforcement requirements. The new docket will be used to monitor T-Mobile’s compliance with these conditions.
- DISH’s Extension of Time to Complete Construction of Facilities and Buildout Commitments: WTB opened WT Docket No. 22-212 entitled “Monitoring DISH’s Compliance with Conditions Granting an Extension of Time to Complete Construction of Facilities and Buildout Commitments.” You may recall that in 2019, DISH filed several requests to extend the time to complete construction of its facilities for its AWS-4, Lower 700 MHz E Block and AWS H Block Licenses, in which DISH committed itself to construct a nationwide 5G broadband network or make significant financial payments should it fail to do so. DISH was permitted to acquire Sprint’s Boost Mobile to help achieve that deployment. In granting both DISH’s extensions and the acquisition, the FCC required DISH to comply with its promise as conditions to the grant, which include monitoring of a nationwide 5G network deployment buildout and coverage requirements, as well as verification and enforcement requirements. The new docket will be used to monitor DISH’s compliance with these conditions.
- Verizon-Tracfone Transfer of Control: WTB opened WT Docket No. 22-210 entitled “Monitoring Compliance with Conditions Imposed in the Verizon-TracFone Transfer of Control.” You may recall that in granting Verizon’s request to transfer control of TracFone, the FCC required Verizon to comply with various promises Verizon had made as conditions to the grant to ensure that the proposed transaction served the public interest, including protections for Lifeline and low-income consumers, conditions involving customer migration and transition, wholesale services, and the unlocking of devices, compliance and reporting obligations, the appointment of an independent compliance officer, and the filing of periodic reports to help ensure that the conditions were fulfilled. The new docket will be used to monitor Verizon’s compliance with these conditions.
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