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FCC now taking comments on whether T-Mobile, Sprint should merge

You have till Aug. 27.

Abrar Al-Heeti Technology Reporter
Abrar Al-Heeti is a technology reporter for CNET, with an interest in phones, streaming, internet trends, entertainment, pop culture and digital accessibility. She's also worked for CNET's video, culture and news teams. She graduated with bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Though Illinois is home, she now loves San Francisco -- steep inclines and all.
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Abrar Al-Heeti
CEOs Of Sprint And T-Mobile

T-Mobile CEO John Legere and Sprint Executive Chairman Marcelo Claure.

Alex Wong/Getty Images

If you have burning thoughts about the T-Mobile and Sprint merger, now's your chance to voice them. 

The FCC is accepting petitions from now until Aug. 27 to deny the $26 billion merger, the commission said Wednesday. Those petitions as well as less formal comments can be submitted on the FCC's docket page

Oppositions to the petitions are due by Sept. 17. Replies to those pleadings have to be filed by Oct. 9. 

Petitions to deny a merger are often submitted by advocacy groups and competitors, but they're open to the public. 

T-Mobile and Sprint have long looked at a potential collaboration, given that rivals Verizon and AT&T are much bigger companies, and a merger would help level the playing field. T-Mobile and Sprint considered striking a deal in 2014, but regulators and the White House weren't on board. The Trump administration and the FCC have been more open to deals, and in April the companies finally announced they'd merge.