CCIA and Maine ISP Voice Concerns Over T-Mobile/UScellular Deal
The Computer & Communications Industry Association has joined those raising concerns about T-Mobile’s proposed buy of UScellular’s wireless operations, including some of its spectrum. “Additional concentration in an already highly concentrated market would likely harm consumers by exacerbating price increases…
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that are already prevalent among incumbent carriers,” CCIA said in comments posted this week in docket 24-286. Recent T-Mobile price hikes “illustrate the negative outcomes of market consolidation,” the group said: “After agreeing to lock its prices for three years as part of the settlement on the Sprint acquisition, earlier this year T-Mobile notified its users of significant rate increases for a number of legacy calling plans.” Maine ISP Redzone Wireless also raised concerns. Based on power flux density measurements and harmful interference Redzone is experiencing, “T-Mobile is not currently in compliance with the field strength limits that apply to its 2.5 GHz band facilities operating in Maine,” the ISP said. Moreover, service has deteriorated “to the point that many subscribers have been forced to discontinue their Redzone service and seek alternative, often higher-priced, options.”