Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • ELECTRONICS • ELECTRICAL
    • Fastening • joining
    • FLUID POWER
    • LINEAR MOTION
    • MOTION CONTROL
    • SENSORS
    • TEST & MEASUREMENT
    • Factory automation
    • Warehouse automation
    • DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
  • Learn
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Learning center
    • eBooks • Tech Tips
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars • general engineering
    • Webinars • Automated warehousing
    • Voices
  • LEAP Awards
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guides
  • Resources
    • Subscribe
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Engineering diversity
    • Trends
  • Supplier Listings
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Verizon, cable ops shed light on AWS, marketing deals

By atesmeh | March 26, 2012

Verizon Wireless and the four cable operators it is buying spectrum from have presented the FCC with a nuanced explanation of a marketing and cross-selling arrangement that was penned at the same time the companies agreed on a $3.9 billion sale of AWS spectrum.

The marketing deal between Verizon and Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks and Cox Communications has come under scrutiny for its apparent connection to the airwaves transaction and its possible competitive impact on the cable market.

The FCC asked the companies earlier this month to disclose more information on the side deals after their competitors argued the spectrum sale “appears to be only one small part of what could be a significant realignment of the competitive landscape.”

Verizon Wireless has said that the spectrum purchase and the other agreements are separate, a stance it maintained in documents posted Friday afternoon to the FCC’s online docket.

“The consummation of the transaction contemplated by the license purchase agreements (i.e., sale of the spectrum to Verizon Wireless) is not contingent on the other agreements, and similarly the transactions contemplated by the other agreements (i.e., the parties acting as agents for sale of services, the operation of the technology joint venture, the MSO parties acting as resellers of Verizon Wireless services, if they so elect) are not contingent on the license purchase agreements,” Verizon said.

Comcast painted a somewhat different picture than Verizon. It holds the most spectrum of the group, which goes under the name SpectrumCo, and says it has managed SpectrumCo’s day-to-day operations since it was formed in 2006.

It said the AWS spectrum sale wouldn’t have happened without the side deals, which provide the cable operators with a long-sought means of entering the wireless market.

“Neither Comcast nor SpectrumCo would have entered into the spectrum license purchase agreement had Comcast [and the other SpectrumCo owners] and Verizon Wireless not come to terms on the commercial agreements,” it told the FCC, adding that it would not have given up its spectrum “without having in hand alternative ways of achieving its wireless goals.”

However, Comcast echoed Verizon’s statement that the license agreement and the marketing agreements are not contingent on each other.

“As a legal matter, the spectrum license purchase agreement and the commercial agreements are separate from and not contingent on each other,” Comcast said.

Verizon and the cable operators agreed late last year to cross-sell each other’s services and have formed a joint venture, and the cable operators were given the option to resell Verizon’s wireless service under their own brand, similar to their former MVNO deals with Sprint.

You Might Also Like


Filed Under: Cables + cable management, Industry regulations + certifications

 

LEARNING CENTER

Design World Learning Center
“dw
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for Design Engineering Professionals.
Motor University

Design World Digital Edition

cover

Browse the most current issue of Design World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading design engineering magazine today.

EDABoard the Forum for Electronics

Top global problem solving EE forum covering Microcontrollers, DSP, Networking, Analog and Digital Design, RF, Power Electronics, PCB Routing and much more

EDABoard: Forum for electronics

Sponsored Content

  • Sustainability, Innovation and Safety, Central to Our Approach
  • Why off-highway is the sweet spot for AC electrification technology
  • Looking to 2025: Past Success Guides Future Achievements
  • North American Companies Seek Stronger Ties with Italian OEMs
  • Adapt and Evolve
  • Sustainable Practices for a Sustainable World
View More >>
Engineering Exchange

The Engineering Exchange is a global educational networking community for engineers.

Connect, share, and learn today »

Design World
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Manage your Design World Subscription
  • Subscribe
  • Design World Digital Network
  • Control Engineering
  • Consulting-Specifying Engineer
  • Plant Engineering
  • Engineering White Papers
  • Leap Awards

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • ELECTRONICS • ELECTRICAL
    • Fastening • joining
    • FLUID POWER
    • LINEAR MOTION
    • MOTION CONTROL
    • SENSORS
    • TEST & MEASUREMENT
    • Factory automation
    • Warehouse automation
    • DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
  • Learn
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Learning center
    • eBooks • Tech Tips
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars • general engineering
    • Webinars • Automated warehousing
    • Voices
  • LEAP Awards
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guides
  • Resources
    • Subscribe
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Engineering diversity
    • Trends
  • Supplier Listings
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
We use cookies to personalize content and ads, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. We share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising, and analytics partners who may combine it with other information you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use this website.OkNoRead more