By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Federal Communications Commission said on Monday it has approved Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE:VZ)'s more than $6 billion acquisition of pre-paid mobile phones provider TracFone Wireless with conditions to protect low-income consumers.
The FCC's announcement followed the California Public Utilities Commission's approval of the deal last Thursday after Verizon agreed to additional consumer-protection conditions. Verizon is the largest U.S. wireless carrier by subscribers. TracFone, a unit of Mexican telecom company America Movil (NYSE:AMX), serves more than 20 million customers.
Verizon said in September 2020 it would buy TracFone in a $6.25 billion cash and stock deal with up to $650 million in potential additional future payments.
FCC approval should allow the deal to close as soon as Wednesday.
The FCC said required conditions will protect low-income consumers from price increases and require the company to continue to participate in a low-income telecommunications subsidy program called Lifeline. The agency will require an internal and an independent compliance officer "empowered to proactively monitor conditions, ensure that low-income consumers are not being harmed, and facilitate consumer complaints about potential violations."
Verizon welcomed the FCC's approval, saying the deal would "provide customers with the best of both worlds: more choices, better services and new features."
The deal was approved by the Justice Department last year.
Under the California agreement, TracFone or Verizon must participate in Lifeline for 20 years.
TracFone is one of the largest providers in the Lifeline program, with 1.7 million low-income subscribers in 43 states and the District of Columbia.
Verizon said it has committed to participate in Lifeline for at least seven years and will offer existing TracFone Lifeline rate plans for at least three years.
Lifeline in total provides 9.1 million Americans with free or discounted broadband and voice services.
Democratic U.S. senators Richard Blumenthal, Sheldon Whitehouse, Dianne Feinstein, Ron Wyden and Edward Markey said the "FCC’s binding conditions on Verizon’s acquisition of TracFone can have real-life benefits for consumers — if they’re vigorously followed and enforced."