T-Mobile and Grain Defend Low-Band Spectrum Deal
T-Mobile and Grain Management jointly asked the FCC to approve a transaction in which Grain would buy all of T-Mobile's 800 MHz spectrum in exchange for cash and Grain's 600 MHz spectrum portfolio (see 2503210033). Oppositions were due Monday in docket 25-178.
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T-Mobile and Grain said that only the Rural Wireless Association opposed the deal, which was announced in March (see 2506230058). “It is inexplicable why an organization nominally focused on rural development would champion regulatory inflexibility and administratively burdensome procedures over the flexible framework proposed by Applicants.”
The companies said there was otherwise “strong and widespread support” for the transaction, which offers “an unprecedented opportunity to address longstanding, critical spectrum needs for utilities and small rural carriers.” As commenters argued, “the 800 MHz band offers bandwidth and propagation characteristics that are well suited to address a variety of spectrum needs, including for applications that will harden critical infrastructure and bring security and resilience to consumers and businesses across the country.”