House Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman Cicilline expresses 'concerns' over T-Mobile, Sprint merger

House Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman David Cicilline(D-RI) said he's concerned with a broad range of implications tied to the multi-billion-dollar merger deal between T-Mobile and Sprint. "I'm particularly concerned about the impact on consumers, on the price of services, on choice," he said. Also at the hearing, T-Mobile CEO John Legere commented on Huawei. He said that his network does not now include technology from Huawei, that a new T-Mobile-Sprint 5G network would not contain such tech—something that concerns many on Capitol Hill—and that he would even help others try to clear their networks of the technology.

Democratic Reps tore into a visibly uncomfortable Legere over his decision to stay at President Donald Trump’s hotel in Washington while his company seeks government approval for a $26 billion merger with Sprint. T-Mobile spent nearly $200,000 at the Trump hotel in the months following the announcement of the deal, Legere acknowledged at the hearing. But he defended the practice by pointing out that T-Mobile had spent roughly $1.7 million on hotel stays across the nation’s capital during that entire period. It still didn't sit well with Rep Hank Johnson (D-GA). "It doesn’t pass the smell test with the American public. It looks like you’re trying to purchase influence,” he said.