CPUC Sets Dates in T-Mobile/Sprint Review Redux
The California Public Utilities Commission might hold T-Mobile/Sprint hearings Dec. 5 and 6, if Commissioner Cliff Rechtschaffen decides they’re needed after the next round of comments, said his amended scoping memo released Thursday in docket A.18-07-011. U.S. District Court for…
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the Southern District of New York opens trial Dec. 9 on state attorneys’ general challenge to the deal. The CPUC wants Sprint, T-Mobile and Dish written testimony by Nov. 7, intervenor replies Nov. 22. Simultaneous briefs are due Dec. 20, Rechtschaffen said. The commissioner asked the companies to answer additional questions, including how the DOJ and FCC commitments changed the deal, particularly for California, and the impact of divesting Sprint, Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile prepaid businesses. The state commission reopened review after the carriers signed pacts with Dish and DOJ (see 1909200033). Administrative Law Judge Karl Bemesderfer "would have to draft a proposed decision by mid December if it's going to make the one January meeting, and that's all but impossible," emailed Tellus Venture Associates President Steve Blum. "But a February decision is very possible if there are no glitches. If a hearing is scheduled, if discovery is ordered, if T-Mobile tries another document dump, if everyone at the CPUC wants to take a couple of weeks off for the holidays, then it starts to look like March or later."