Merger opponents: FCC should review AT&T spectrum purchase with merger

The public interest groups, which include Consumers Union, Public Knowledge, Free Press, the Media Access Project and the New America Foundation, said the the agency should deny the Qualcomm transfer. But if it decides to approve the transfer, it must consider the purchase in light of the merger, the groups said. 

“Any determination of the public interest benefit of the Qualcomm transfer that included a competitive analysis and yet failed to take into account the possibility of massive near-term consolidation with T-Mobile would be arbitrary and capricious,” they wrote. 

In a separate letter, Sprint, the Rural Cellular Association, Cincinnati Bell Wireless, MetroPCS and others also told the FCC to combine the proceedings. 

Steven Berry, the president of RCA, said: “It is clear that AT&T is doing everything possible to gain market dominance by making not one but two major spectrum grabs … Neither of these transactions will benefit consumers nor provide a path to restore competition to the wireless marketplace.”

AT&T has said that strains on its network make it essential for the company to acquire more spectrum in order to accommodate the soaring level of data usage. It also says that the wireless industry will remain competitive in the aftermath of a potential combination.