US DoJ and FBI investigating T-Mobile/MetroPCS merger, asks FCC to put review on hold

Things have been rather quiet on the T-Mobile/MetroPCS merger front but it looks like the merger could be running into some hiccups as the US Department of Justice and the FBI have filed a request with the FCC, asking the agency to “defer action” with regards to the T-Mobile/MetroPCS merger. Basically the DoJ and the FBI are interested in conducting some research and investigation of their own over the proposed merger, claiming that they will be “reviewing this matter for any national security, law enforcement, and public safety issues.” Of course this does not mean that the FCC has approved the merger, but rather that the FCC put whatever investigations or discussions they have on hold while the DoJ and FBI conduct their business. The FCC is currently on day 32 of its 180-day review although it is unclear if they will be pausing their stop watches while the investigation is carried out.