US: DOJ’s Delrahim met with FCC’s Pai to talk T-Mobile-Sprint merger

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai and Justice Department (DOJ) antitrust chief Makan Delrahim allegedly met last Friday, June 7, to discuss the T-Mobile-Sprint merger. According to Fox Business, the two discussed how they can keep the US telecom space remains competitive and how they can ensure that T-Mobile and Sprint follow through with their merger promises.

It’s said that T-Mobile and Sprint may have to divest more prepaid business in addition to Boost Mobile if they want to get the Justice Department’s approval for their deal.

The Delrahim-Pai lunch meeting was held at Washington, DC, restaurant Central Michel Richard. People with knowledge of the meeting say it’s unclear if Delrahim was persuaded by Pai’s arguments in support of the merger.

But analysts say the fact that the two met at this critical time shows that the timetable for DOJ approval has been expedited.

“I believe the decision will come in less than 10 days,” said long-time telecom entrepreneur Peter Adderton, the founder of prepaid wireless company Boost, which is now part of Sprint and will be sold to meet the FCC concessions if the merger moves forward.