Wireless
The purchase of Centennial would “deprive smaller carriers of an ally and consortium partner in buying arrangements,” Cincinnati Bell told the U.S. Federal Communications Commission in a meeting Oct. 16, according to a disclosure filing on the agencys Web site.
The Justice Department approved the $945 million merger on Oct. 13 on condition the combined company sell wireless assets in Louisiana and Mississippi. The FCC will make a decision “very soon,” Ruth Milkman, who heads the agencys wireless bureau, said at the time.
The FCC should impose a condition that “parallels” the commitment by Verizon Wireless to make smart phones available sooner to small carriers, Cincinnati Bell Wireless told agency staff, according to its filing. Verizon Wireless, owned by Verizon Communications Inc. and Vodafone Group PLC, said in July it will relinquish exclusivity for new phone designs and let small carriers have access after six months, down from one to two years for most exclusive contracts.
The FCC is investigating whether consumers are harmed by exclusive contracts. Examples include AT&T Inc.s arrangement to offer Apple Inc.s iPhone on its network, Sprint Nextel Corp.s sole rights for Palm Inc.s Pre and Verizon Wirelesss deal with Research In Motion Ltd.s Blackberry Storm.
Cincinnati Bell Wireless LLC, part of Cincinnati Bell Inc., served about 550,600 customers at the end of 2008 in areas including greater Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, the parent company said in a regulatory filing.
AT&T, based in Dallas, fell 17 cents to $25.83 at 2:22 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. Wall, New Jersey- based Centennial dropped 1 cent to $8.40 on the Nasdaq Stock Market.