Sprint and T-Mobile have been pushing regulators to approve their proposed merger for a year, and it looks like the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is falling in line. Commissioner Brendan Carr and chairman Ajit Pai have both signaled their support on Twitter. That just leaves the Justice Department standing in the way of T-Mobile gobbling up Sprint and all its yummy spectrum.

Ajit Pai, now infamous for his successful repeal of net neutrality, says that the merger is in the public interest. In a full statement linked on Twitter, Pai says that the combined company will be better able to build a competitive 5G network. Pai will recommend to the other FCC commissioners that they approve the merger. Fellow Republican Brendan Carr is already publicly on board, too. Like Pai, Carr says the new T-Mobile will be able to accelerate 5G deployment and aid rural communities.

The FCC consists of three Republican commissioners and two Democratic. Michael O'Rielly, the third Republican, will no doubt fall in line. That gives the merger enough votes to pass. With that hurdle out of the way, T-Mobile and Sprint can focus on the DOJ, which has reportedly expressed apprehension about the current deal.

Thanks: Moshe