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After a thorough review of the proposed transaction, the Antitrust Division has determined that the combination of T-Mobile and MetroPCS is unlikely to harm consumers or substantially lessen competition and has closed its investigation.

The department considered whether the proposed combination of T-Mobile and MetroPCS might tend to lessen competition substantially in any particular local area, for instance by combining the two carriers with the best local coverage. MetroPCS has a network based on high frequency spectrum (i.e. advanced wireless services (AWS) and personal communications services (PCS) spectrum) that is less able to cover rural areas or penetrate buildings. It does not provide a particularly unique and competitively significant differentiated offering in the regions in which it operates. Each of the markets served by MetroPCS is also served by all four national carriers. Accordingly, the transaction is not likely to lessen competition substantially at local levels. Finally, the proposed combination of T-Mobile and MetroPCS may have a procompetitive impact in that it improves T-Mobile’s scale and spectrum position, particularly since MetroPCS’s spectrum holdings are compatible with T-Mobile’s existing network. The department said that it will continue to monitor competition in the mobile wireless industry and to bring enforcement actions where warranted.

The Federal Trade Commission released new guidance for mobile and other online advertisers that explains how to make disclosures clear and conspicuous to avoid deception.

The new guidance takes into account the expanding use of smartphones with small screens and the rise of social media marketing. It also contains mock ads that illustrate the updated principles. It emphasizes that consumer protection laws apply equally to marketers across all mediums, whether delivered on a desktop computer, a mobile device, or more traditional media such as television, radio, or print. The guidance calls on advertisers to avoid using hyperlinks for disclosures that involve product cost or certain health and safety issues. The new guidelines also call for labeling hyperlinks as specifically as possible, and they caution advertisers to consider how their hyperlinks will function on various programs and devices. The new guidance points out that advertisers using space-constrained ads, such as on some social media platforms, must still provide disclosures necessary to prevent an ad from being deceptive, and it advises marketers to avoid conveying such disclosures through pop-ups, because they are often blocked.

The Federal Communications Commission’s Wireline Competition Bureau seeks nominations for the following board member positions on the Board of Directors of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). The terms expired on December 31, 2012.

• Representative for state telecommunications regulators (position currently held by Ronald A. Brisé).
• Representative for rural health care providers that are eligible to receive supported services pursuant to § 54.601 (position formerly held by Jay H. Sanders).
• Representative for information service providers (position currently held by David P. McClure).
• Representative for schools that are eligible to receive discounts pursuant to § 54.501 (position currently held by Sheryl R. Abshire).

All nominations must be filed with the Office of the Secretary by March 26, 2013.

Relatively unsophisticated hackers could eventually disrupt insecure computer networks running parts of vital functions like the power grid, a US intelligence official said in an annual assessment of world-wide threats that gave cybersecurity top billing.

The increasing risk of cyberattacks on critical U.S. infrastructure edged aside al Qaeda and terrorism, which were described as increasingly diffuse threats more likely to harm U.S. interests abroad than at home. The annual assessment was provided by Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. Cyberattacks from "less advanced but highly motivated actors" could still do great harm, Mr. Clapper said in prepared testimony for the Senate Intelligence Committee, because of the effects on computer networks connected to the one under attack. The report cited cyberassaults last year on the websites of U.S. banks and a more destructive attack on a Saudi oil company that destroyed 30,000 computers as examples of the kinds of disruptions already taking place.