Deutsche Telekom CEO to FCC: stop the Verizon/cable deal

Deutsche Telekom CEO Rene Obermann called FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski in early May with this request: Block the proposed spectrum/cross-marketing deal that Verizon and four cable companies are proposing.

Obermann said that if the FCC approves the deal, it would give Verizon immense control over valued spectrum and of the wireless market. That would leave the struggling DT subsidiary T-Mobile in worse shape than it is today. With the FCC having blocked the AT&T/T-Mobile merger, T-Mobile is searching for a path forward to compete in a 4G LTE wireless world.

The previous week, the FCC told Verizon and the cable companies that it was stopping the clock on the informal 180-day review period because of the difficulty in getting documents from Verizon and the cable companies.

Deutsche Telekom Asks FCC Chairman To Block Verizon-Cable Deal (National Journal, May 7, 2012)

Deutsche Telekom ex parte letter to FCC (May 4, 2012)