Imposing spectrum aggregation limits in the TV incentive...
Imposing spectrum aggregation limits in the TV incentive auction would be “perverse and unjust” since they would help “large multinational companies at the expense of their competitors,” Verizon representatives said in meetings with FCC commissioners Ajit Pai and Mike O'Rielly.…
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T-Mobile is owned by Germany’s Deutsche Telekom and Sprint is partly owned by Japan’s SoftBank. “T-Mobile and Sprint are large corporations with established, well-financed corporate parents,” Verizon said in an ex parte filing (http://bit.ly/1nMcGI4). “They and their parent corporations are more than capable of paying substantial amounts to acquire spectrum in the incentive auction if they choose to do so.” Verizon also warned that imposing limits on selling restricted spectrum licenses would hurt the auction. “Such restrictions would suppress the value of the restricted licenses at auction, further reducing competition and further increasing the risk that broadcasters do not relinquish substantial amounts of spectrum,” Verizon said. “That is because firms are less likely to participate, or to bid aggressively, if they know that they will be unable to subsequently sell their spectrum if their business plans change or do not work out."