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Aug. 24, 2008

Lately, Verizon Wireless has been very busy trying to convince regulators in approving its merger with Alltel Wireless.

Now the wireless provider is trying to allay concerns on the part of Alltel roaming partners by committing to longer-term roaming deals with the carriers.

Specifically, Verizon Wireless said it will keep rates set in all existing Alltel agreements for the full term of the agreement or for two years from the closing date, whichever occurs later.

Verizon made note of that concession in a 256-page filing with the FCC on Friday.

In its filing, Verizon is saying that the proposed transaction will not raise competitive issues in any market, and that it is further committed in divesting its business units in 85 local markets as a condition of the merger.

Furthermore, Verizon said that its proposed merger will generate substantial benefits for existing Alltel customers and existing and even future Verizon Wireless customers, particularly those in rural areas.

The wireless provider also told the FCC that requests to apply previously abolished or rejected spectrum caps are unjustified and unwarranted.

For the past year now, smaller wireless carriers such as Leap Wireless have argued that the FCC should completely cancel a home roaming requirement that allows one carrier to reject roaming with another wireless carrier if the requesting carrier holds a spectrum license in that market.

Smaller carriers also want the FCC to require that data roaming still will be provided and with no additional conditions imposed.

A number of regional and rural carriers have sought to saddle Verizon Wireless with home market and data roaming obligations and special restrictions on exclusive handset agreements that are not required today of any mobile service provider, the FCC filing stated.

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Source: Verizon Wireless.