Deutsche Telekom Asks FCC Chairman To Block Verizon-Cable Deal

Deutsche Telekom CEO René Obermann personally pressed Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski to block a spectrum deal between Verizon and cable companies, according to documents filed with the FCC.

During a phone call last week, Obermann told Chairman Genachowski that allowing Verizon to buy a swath of spectrum from cable companies would give Verizon too much control over prime spectrum and leave competitors, like Deutsche Telekom subsidiary T-Mobile, out in the cold. Obermann also thanked Chairman Genachowski for approving the transfer of spectrum from AT&T to T-Mobile as part of a break-up fee after the failed merger between the companies.