FCC denies motion to stop clock on T-Mobile/Sprint deal

The Federal Communications Commission has denied a request to stop the clock or extend the pleading cycle associated with the proposed T-Mobile/Sprint combination. The FCC denied the request by Public Knowledge, the Benton Foundation, and others to stop the review clock in order for operators to supplement their public interest statement with more specific information. In denying the request, the FCC said the the movants failed to establish any basis for granting the extension. “While we understand that this may be a busy period for the Movants in light of pending proceedings before the Commission and the Federal Trade Commission, that fact does not support grant of an extension of time,” the agency said, adding that the timing of Jewish holidays in September, after the current scheduled petition to deny due date, doesn’t warrant granting an extension of time. The FCC is sticking with the established pleading cycle where Petitions to Deny are due Aug 27; comments in opposition are due Sept 17, and replies to those are due Oct 9.