OVERNIGHT TECH: FCC will probe Verizon-cable commercial deals

Although the $3.6 billion spectrum deal and the cross-marketing arrangements were announced simultaneously, Verizon and the cable companies argue that they are separate and unrelated deals.

Also on Thursday, the FCC asked Verizon and the cable companies, which include Comcast and Time Warner, for more information about the transactions.

{mosads}The FCC questioned Comcast about whether it ever planned to use its spectrum. The agency pointed to statements from Comcast chief financial officer Michael Angelakis that indicated Comcast might have never planned to build its own wireless network.

The letter also asked for Comcast’s analysis of how the failed AT&T/ T-Mobile merger would have affected their business.

In a letter to Verizon, the FCC requested more of the company’s business data and how it plans to use the additional wireless spectrum.

“We believe getting previously unused spectrum into the hands of consumers is strongly in the public interest,” a Verizon spokesman said. “We will continue to respond completely and rapidly to the questions about both the spectrum transfer and the separate cross-marketing agreements at the FCC and DOJ, thereby demonstrating the benefits they bring to consumers.”

ICYMI:

Senior administration officials simulated a cyberattack for a group of senators Wednesday evening as part of their push for legislation that would give the government more control over critical computer systems.

The FCC fired back at Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on Thursday after the Republican lawmaker accused the agency of stonewalling his probe over wireless start-up LightSquared.

The White House launched a centralized ethics website Thursday, fulfilling a 2008 campaign pledge made by President Obama.