The FCC is seeking info from various parties, including Altice USA, Comcast and Charter, on the proposed T-Mobile/Sprint merger. Responses are due Oct 17. Recall that Altice has raised concerns over what the union could mean for MVNO partners down the road and has asked the FCC to deny the deal or condition it to require the new company to commit to long-term, nationwide agreement for all MVNOs across the improved coverage. The MSO plans to launch mobile service in 2019 through its full MVNO with Sprint. Charter didn’t touch on the merits of the merger, but told the FCC that it should not view its mobile service as serious competition in the marketplace. The FCC wants the cable companies to chime in on how the proposed transaction could impact mobile wireless business and their TV/internet business.

The second part could be significant as it signals the Commission is thinking about more than mobile phone service. Mobile wireless is, of course, significant, with the Commission asking for details on the characteristics of mobile customers; revenue, costs and profitability of wireless customers; and plans to develop a facilities-based mobile wireless network. The FCC also sent letters seeking more info from AT&T, Verizon, US Cellular, Cellular South and TracFone Wireless. The FCC’s voluntary 180-day merger review shot clock has been paused since Sept 11, with the agency declaring that more time was needed for staff and third-party review of newly submitted and anticipated modeling, including a “substantially revised network engineering model.”