-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KUCFOb441V3LTSE3+TeZqkbl+w19wJV5BuA2713/maBMUR3sm44qX8PpoESkjY0j
 vOU7+1+TCXjlJmalQoLP7A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-11-014843.txt : 20110302
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-11-014843.hdr.sgml : 20110302
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110302195245
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-11-014843
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20110228
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110302
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110302

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PATTERSON ARTHUR C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001219233

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-33409
		FILM NUMBER:		11658034

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		428 UNIVERSITY AVE
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94301

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			METROPCS COMMUNICATIONS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001283699
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RADIO TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS [4812]
		IRS NUMBER:				200836269
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2250 LAKESIDE BLVD
		CITY:			RICHARDSON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75082
		BUSINESS PHONE:		214-265-2550

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2250 LAKESIDE BLVD
		CITY:			RICHARDSON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75082
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd303805.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-02-28</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001283699</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>METROPCS COMMUNICATIONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PCS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001219233</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PATTERSON ARTHUR C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>428 UNIVERSITY AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PALO ALTO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94301</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-02-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>493492</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2983181</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By ACP Family Partnership L.P.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2091654</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Ellmore C. Patterson Partners, L.P.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>436576</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By ACP 2007 Accel-7 GRAT U/A/D 4/2/07</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>436577</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By ACP 2007 Accel-10 GRAT U/A/D 4/2/07</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>14.40</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-02-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>16800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2021-02-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>16800</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16800</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares of restricted stock vest over a period of three years upon the reporting person's completion of each quarter of service in a series of twelve (12) successive equal quarterly installments.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reporting person is affiliated with the following entities, and with such entities is deemed to be a member of a &quot;group&quot; under Section 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended: ACP Family Partnership L.P., Ellmore C. Patterson Partners L.P., ACP 2007 ACCEL-7 GRAT U/A/D 4/2/07 and ACP 2007 ACCEL-10 GRAT U/A/D 4/2/07.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities held by such entities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">These shares are held directly by ACP Family Partnership L.P.  Members of the reporting person's immediate family are beneficial holders of ACP Family Partnership L.P., and the reporting person may be deemed to exercise voting and investment power over such shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">These shares are held directly by Ellmore C. Patterson Partners, L.P.  The reporting person is a director of the general partner of Ellmore C. Patterson Partners L.P.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">These shares are held directly by ACP 2007 Accel-7 GRAT U/A/D 4/2/07 of which the reporting person is the trustee.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">These shares are held directly by ACP 2007 Accel-10 GRAT U/A/D 4/2/07 of which the reporting person is the trustee.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">The option vests over a period of three years upon the reporting person's completion of each month of service in a series of thirty-six (36) successive equal monthly installments.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Tracy L. Sedlock, as Attorney in Fact for Arthur C. Patterson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-03-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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