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US Cellular tells the FCC it's doomed without the T-Mobile acquisition
(www.androidauthority.com)
this post was submitted on 08 Oct 2024
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That's not why they're selling.
Congress let the FCC spectrum auction/allocation authority expire in 2023. So the FCC is unable to allocate new spectrum licenses to carriers. Even the spectrum that was already auctioned has been in limbo.
https://broadbandbreakfast.com/wireless-providers-others-disagree-on-allocating-spectrum-without-auction-authority/
That makes transfer/sale of existing licenses the only path to acquisition, which significantly raises the prospective value of those assets.
T-Mobile doesn't want their customers or their infrastructure. They want the spectrum. And because Congress is sitting on their hands, US Cellular is able to demand a higher premium now than they likely ever would again.