Verizon urges FCC to approve deal with cable companies

Verizon urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to approve its $3.6 billion deal with a group of cable of companies, including Comcast and Time Warner, in a filing on March 2.

Verizon argued the additional airwave licenses will allow it to meet the growing demands of data-intensive smartphones and tablet computers. Verizon argued that it is one of the most efficient companies in its use of spectrum and that the deal will help it meet the needs of its customers. It also said competition in the wireless industry would remain "robust" with the deal. Although the consumer groups have claimed that the cross-marketing agreements between Verizon and the cable companies would lead to anticompetitive behavior, Verizon argued the FCC has no authority to review those deals. The company said the FCC only has the right to examine deals that involve transfers of airwave licenses. "Consideration of the Commercial Agreements is not necessary for — or even relevant to — the review of the spectrum license assignments here," Verizon claimed. It also noted that the Justice Department is already investigating the cross-marketing agreements in its own review.

Public Knowledge, a consumer group that opposes the deal, called Verizon's arguments "absurd."