10-Q

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

þ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2012

OR

o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission File Number

1-33409

METROPCS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	20-0836269
(State or other jurisdiction	(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)	Identification No.)
2250 Lakeside Boulevard
Richardson, Texas	75082-4304
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(214) 570-5800

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer þ	Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ

On October 19, 2012, there were 364,103,435 shares of the registrant’s common stock, $0.0001 par value, outstanding.

METROPCS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q

Table of Contents

	Page
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011	1
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 and 2011	2
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 and 2011	3
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements	4
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	24
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	39
Item 4. Controls and Procedures	39
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings	40
Item 1A. Risk Factors	41
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	76
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities	*
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures	*
Item 5. Other Information	*
Item 6. Exhibits	77
SIGNATURES	78

 ———————————— 

* No reportable information under this item.

Part I.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

MetroPCS Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except share and per share information)

(Unaudited)

	September 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	2,057,339		$	1,943,282
Short-term investments	507,943			299,972
Inventories	312,632			239,648
Accounts receivable (net of allowance for uncollectible accounts of $490 and $601 at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively)	95,263			78,023
Prepaid expenses	80,040			55,712
Deferred charges	71,590			74,970
Deferred tax assets	7,666			7,214
Other current assets	52,349			44,772
Total current assets	3,184,822			2,743,593
Property and equipment, net	4,197,399			4,017,999
Restricted cash and investments	2,076			2,576
Long-term investments	1,679			6,319
FCC licenses	2,562,315			2,539,041
Other assets	123,618			173,403
Total assets	$	10,071,909		$	9,482,931
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	450,087		$	512,346
Current maturities of long-term debt	36,112			33,460
Deferred revenue	232,307			245,705
Other current liabilities	66,144			25,212
Total current liabilities	784,650			816,723
Long-term debt, net	4,731,174			4,711,021
Deferred tax liabilities	1,008,870			817,106
Deferred rents	133,272			120,028
Other long-term liabilities	91,496			90,453
Total liabilities	6,749,462			6,555,331
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (See Note 10)
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized; no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011	—			—
Common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 1,000,000,000 shares authorized, 363,875,489 and 362,460,395 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	36			36
Additional paid-in capital	1,815,315			1,784,273
Retained earnings	1,521,925			1,159,418
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(4,625		)	(9,295		)
Less treasury stock, at cost, 965,021 and 602,881 treasury shares at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	(10,204		)	(6,832		)
Total stockholders’ equity	3,322,447			2,927,600
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	10,071,909		$	9,482,931

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

1

MetroPCS Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income

(in thousands, except share and per share information)

(Unaudited)

	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
REVENUES:
Service revenues	$	1,121,957		$	1,131,054		$	3,439,678		$	3,294,563
Equipment revenues	137,203			74,334			377,252			314,654
Total revenues	1,259,160			1,205,388			3,816,930			3,609,217
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of service (excluding depreciation and amortization expense of $142,892, $120,362, $408,852 and $347,645 shown separately below)	373,032			382,033			1,130,377			1,089,480
Cost of equipment	265,940			343,473			1,002,726			1,095,269
Selling, general and administrative expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization expense of $20,197, $18,947, $60,406 and $54,883 shown separately below)	163,409			162,459			507,497			486,786
Depreciation and amortization	163,089			139,309			469,258			402,528
Loss on disposal of assets	1,452			1,283			4,618			2,731
Total operating expenses	966,922			1,028,557			3,114,476			3,076,794
Income from operations	292,238			176,831			702,454			532,423
OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME):
Interest expense	66,655			69,511			206,224			193,051
Interest income	(460		)	(531		)	(1,208		)	(1,557		)
Other (income) expense, net	(105		)	(93		)	(418		)	(534		)
Gain on settlement	(52,500		)	—			(52,500		)	—
Loss on extinguishment of debt	—			—			—			9,536
Total other expense	13,590			68,887			152,098			200,496
Income before provision for income taxes	278,648			107,944			550,356			331,927
Provision for income taxes	(85,981		)	(38,618		)	(187,849		)	(121,887		)
Net income	$	192,667		$	69,326		$	362,507		$	210,040
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities, net of tax of $49, $25, $100 and $127, respectively	3,512			40			3,593			204
Unrealized losses on cash flow hedging derivatives, net of tax benefit of $1,002, $5,790, $3,608 and $13,713, respectively	(1,748		)	(9,286		)	(5,913		)	(22,060		)
Reclassification adjustment for gains on available-for-sale securities included in net income, net of tax of $33, $47, $58 and $169, respectively	(56		)	(75		)	(96		)	(272		)
Reclassification adjustment for losses on cash flow hedging derivatives included in net income, net of tax benefit of $1,301, $2,468, $4,324 and $6,587, respectively	2,254			3,956			7,086			10,596
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	3,962			(5,365		)	4,670			(11,532		)
Comprehensive income	$	196,629		$	63,961		$	367,177		$	198,508
Net income per common share:
Basic	$	0.53		$	0.19		$	0.99		$	0.58
Diluted	$	0.52		$	0.19		$	0.99		$	0.57
Weighted average shares:
Basic	363,584,552			362,019,205			363,190,434			359,763,082
Diluted	365,019,836			364,865,226			364,440,115			363,717,798

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

2

MetroPCS Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

(Unaudited)

	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$	362,507		$	210,040
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	469,258			402,528
Provision for uncollectible accounts receivable	3,155			382
Deferred rent expense	13,432			13,457
Cost of abandoned cell sites	1,357			650
Stock-based compensation expense	28,756			32,142
Non-cash interest expense	5,563			6,141
Loss on disposal of assets	4,618			2,731
Gain on settlement	(52,500		)	—
Loss on extinguishment of debt	—			9,536
Gain on sale of investments	(154		)	(441		)
Accretion of asset retirement obligations	4,900			4,198
Deferred income taxes	191,243			119,290
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Inventories	(72,984		)	14,047
Accounts receivable, net	(17,152		)	(7,373		)
Prepaid expenses	(24,279		)	(16,289		)
Deferred charges	3,379			2,307
Other assets	16,469			24,755
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(82,100		)	(90,087		)
Deferred revenue	(13,398		)	19,225
Other liabilities	6,398			6,421
Net cash provided by operating activities	848,468			753,660
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property and equipment	(588,332		)	(699,625		)
Change in prepaid purchases of property and equipment	39,330			(65,241		)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	897			845
Purchases of investments	(692,147		)	(462,289		)
Proceeds from maturity of investments	492,500			537,500
Proceeds from gain on settlement	52,500			—
Change in restricted cash and investments	500			300
Acquisitions of FCC licenses and microwave clearing costs	(22,998		)	(4,003		)
Cash used in asset acquisitions	—			(7,495		)
Net cash used in investing activities	(717,750		)	(700,008		)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Change in book overdraft	9,131			14,081
Proceeds from debt issuance, net of discount	—			1,497,500
Debt issuance costs	—			(15,351		)
Repayment of debt	(19,042		)	(17,945		)
Retirement of senior secured credit facility debt	—			(535,792		)
Payments on capital lease obligations	(6,668		)	(6,222		)
Purchase of treasury stock	(3,373		)	(4,359		)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	3,291			58,666
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(16,661		)	990,578
INCREASE CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	114,057			1,044,230
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	1,943,282			796,531
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	$	2,057,339		$	1,840,761

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

3

MetroPCS Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

1. Basis of Presentation:

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements include the balances and results of operations of MetroPCS Communications, Inc. (“MetroPCS”) and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”).

The condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income and cash flows for the periods ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, and the related footnotes are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included herein reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal, recurring adjustments) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to state fairly the results for the interim periods presented. The results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the operating results to be expected for any subsequent interim period or for the fiscal year.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of certain assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The Company has thirteen operating segments based on geographic regions within the United States: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Orlando/Jacksonville, Philadelphia, Sacramento, San Francisco and Tampa/Sarasota. In accordance with the provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 280 (Topic 280, “Segment Reporting”), the Company aggregates its thirteen operating segments into one reportable segment.

Federal Universal Service Fund (“FUSF”), E-911 and various other fees are assessed by various governmental authorities in connection with the services that the Company provides to its customers. The Company offers a family of service plans, which include all applicable taxes and regulatory fees (“tax inclusive plans”). The Company reports regulatory fees for the tax inclusive plans in cost of service on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income. When the Company separately assesses these regulatory fees on its customers for those service plans that do not include taxes or regulatory fees, the Company reports these regulatory fees on a gross basis in service revenues and cost of service on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income. For the three months endedSeptember 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company recorded $9.3 million and $16.8 million, respectively, of FUSF, E-911 and other fees on a gross basis. For the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company recorded $34.5 million and $52.3 million, respectively, of FUSF, E-911 and other fees on a gross basis. Sales, use and excise taxes for all service plans are reported on a net basis in selling, general and administrative expenses on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2012, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2012-02, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment," allowing entities to make a qualitative evaluation about the likelihood of impairment of an indefinite-lived intangible asset to determine whether the quantitative test is required, as opposed to required annual quantitative impairment testing.  The amendment was effective for interim and annual impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012.  Early adoption is permitted. The Company did not elect to utilize a qualitative assessment and has performed the annual quantitative impairment test as of September 30, consistent with prior years.  The implementation of this standard is not expected to affect the Company's financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

2. Asset Acquisition:

In October 2010, the Company entered into an asset purchase agreement to acquire 10 MHz of AWS spectrum and certain related network assets adjacent to the Northeast metropolitan areas for a total purchase price of $49.2 million. In November 2010, the Company closed on the acquisition of the network assets and paid a total of $41.1 million in cash. In February 2011, the Company closed on the acquisition of the 10 MHz of AWS spectrum and paid $8.0 million in cash. In June 2011, the Company completed its final settlement of costs and received $0.5 million in cash as reimbursement for pre-acquisition

4

MetroPCS Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

payments made on behalf of the seller. The Company used the relative fair values of the assets acquired to allocate the purchase price, of which $35.6 million was allocated to property and equipment and $13.6 million was allocated to Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) licenses.

3. Short-term Investments:

The Company’s short-term investments consist of securities classified as available-for-sale, which are stated at fair value. The securities include U.S. Treasury securities and certain auction rate securities with an original maturity of over 90 days. Unrealized gains, net of related income taxes, for available-for-sale securities are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), a component of stockholders’ equity, until realized. The estimated fair values of investments are based on quoted market prices as of the end of the reporting period. The U.S. Treasury securities reported as of September 30, 2012 have contractual maturities of less than one year.

Short-term investments, with an original maturity of over 90 days, consisted of the following (in thousands):

	As of September 30, 2012
	Amortized Cost		Unrealized Gain in Accumulated OCI		Unrealized Loss in Accumulated OCI			Aggregate Fair Value
Equity securities	$	7	$	—	$	(6	)	$	1
U.S. Treasury securities	499,731		142		—			499,873
Auction rate securities	1,210		6,859		—			8,069
Total short-term investments	$	500,948	$	7,001	$	(6	)	$	507,943

	As of December 31, 2011
	Amortized Cost		Unrealized Gain in Accumulated OCI		Unrealized Loss in Accumulated OCI			Aggregate Fair Value
Equity securities	$	7	$	—	$	(6	)	$	1
U.S. Treasury securities	299,939		32		—			299,971
Total short-term investments	$	299,946	$	32	$	(6	)	$	299,972

In October 2012, the Company sold certain auction rate securities for approximately $8.1 million in cash. Accordingly, the Company classified the auction rate securities sold in October 2012 as short-term investments as of September 30, 2012.

4. Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities:

In October 2010, MetroPCS Wireless, Inc. (“Wireless”) entered into three separate two-year interest rate protection agreements to manage its interest rate risk exposure under Wireless’ senior secured credit facility, as amended (the “Senior Secured Credit Facility”). These agreements were effective on February 1, 2012 and cover a notional amount of $950.0 million and effectively convert this portion of Wireless’ variable rate debt to fixed rate debt at a weighted average annual rate of 4.908%. These agreements expire on February 1, 2014.

In April 2011, Wireless entered into three separate three-year interest rate protection agreements to manage its interest rate risk exposure under its Senior Secured Credit Facility. These agreements were effective on April 15, 2011 and cover a notional amount of $450.0 million and effectively convert this portion of Wireless’ variable rate debt to fixed rate debt at a weighted average annual rate of 5.242%. These agreements expire on April 15, 2014.

Interest rate protection agreements are entered into to manage interest rate risk associated with Wireless’ variable-rate borrowings under the Senior Secured Credit Facility. The interest rate protection agreements have been designated as cash flow hedges. If a derivative is designated as a cash flow hedge and the hedging relationship qualifies for hedge accounting under the provisions of ASC 815 (Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging”), the effective portion of the change in fair value of the derivative is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and reclassified to interest expense in the period in which the hedged transaction affects earnings. The ineffective portion of the change in fair value of a derivative qualifying for hedge accounting is recognized in earnings in the period of the change. For the three and nine months endedSeptember 30,

5

MetroPCS Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

2012, the change in fair value did not result in ineffectiveness.

At the inception of the cash flow hedges and quarterly thereafter, the Company performs an assessment to determine whether changes in the fair values or cash flows of the derivatives are deemed highly effective in offsetting changes in the fair values or cash flows of the hedged transaction. If at any time subsequent to the inception of the cash flow hedges, the assessment indicates that the derivative is no longer highly effective as a hedge, the Company will discontinue hedge accounting and recognize all subsequent derivative gains and losses in results of operations. The Company estimates that approximately $13.6 million of net losses that are reported in accumulated other comprehensive loss at September 30, 2012 are expected to be reclassified into earnings within the next 12 months.

Cross-default Provisions

Wireless’ interest rate protection agreements contain cross-default provisions to its Senior Secured Credit Facility. Wireless’ Senior Secured Credit Facility allows interest rate protection agreements to become secured if the counterparty to the agreement is a current lender under the Senior Secured Credit Facility. If Wireless were to default on the Senior Secured Credit Facility, it would trigger these provisions, and the counterparties to the interest rate protection agreements could request immediate payment on interest rate protection agreements in net liability positions, similar to their existing rights as a lender. There are no collateral requirements in the interest rate protection agreements. The aggregate fair value of interest rate protection agreements with cross-default provisions that are in a net liability position as of September 30, 2012 is $19.1 million.

Fair Values of Derivative Instruments

(in thousands)	Liability Derivatives
	As of September 30, 2012				As of December 31, 2011
	Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value			Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815
Interest rate protection agreements	Other current liabilities	$	(13,630	)	Other current liabilities	$	(11,644	)
Interest rate protection agreements	Other long-term liabilities	(5,496		)	Other long-term liabilities	(9,371		)
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815		$	(19,126	)		$	(21,015	)

The Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

Derivatives in ASC 815 Cash Flow Hedging Relationships	Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in OCI on Derivative (Effective Portion)						Location of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income (Effective Portion)	Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income (Effective Portion)
	2012			2011				2012			2011
Interest rate protection agreements	$	(2,751	)	$	(15,076	)	Interest expense	$	(3,555	)	$	(6,424	)

The Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

Derivatives in ASC 815 Cash Flow Hedging Relationships	Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in OCI on Derivative (Effective Portion)						Location of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income (Effective Portion)	Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income (Effective Portion)
	2012			2011				2012			2011
Interest rate protection agreements	$	(9,521	)	$	(35,774	)	Interest expense	$	(11,410	)	$	(17,182	)

5. Intangible Assets:

The Company operates wireless broadband mobile networks under licenses granted by the FCC for a particular geographic area on spectrum allocated by the FCC for terrestrial wireless broadband services. The Company holds personal communications services (“PCS”) licenses, advanced wireless services (“AWS”) licenses, 700 MHz licenses and microwave licenses granted or acquired on various dates. The PCS licenses previously included, and the AWS licenses currently include, the obligation and resulting costs to relocate existing fixed microwave users of the Company's licensed spectrum if the

6

MetroPCS Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

Company's use of its spectrum interferes with their systems and/or reimburse other carriers (according to FCC rules) that relocated prior users if the relocation benefits the Company's system. Accordingly, the Company incurs costs related to microwave relocation in constructing its PCS and AWS networks. FCC Licenses and related microwave relocation costs are recorded at cost.

The change in the carrying value of intangible assets during the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 is as follows (in thousands):

	FCC Licenses		Microwave Relocation Costs
Balance at January 1, 2012	$	2,513,770	$	25,271
Additions	21,946		1,328
Disposals	—		—
Balance at September 30, 2012	$	2,535,716	$	26,599

Although PCS, AWS, 700 MHz and microwave licenses are issued with a stated term between ten and fifteen years, the renewal of PCS, AWS, 700 MHz and microwave licenses is generally a routine matter without substantial cost and the Company has determined that no legal, regulatory, contractual, competitive, economic, or other factors currently exist that limit the useful life of its PCS, AWS, 700 MHz and microwave licenses. As such, under the provisions of ASC 350, (Topic 350, “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other”), the Company's PCS, AWS, 700 MHz and microwave licenses and microwave relocation costs (collectively, the "indefinite-lived intangible assets") are not amortized because they are considered to have indefinite lives, but are tested at least annually for impairment.

In accordance with the requirements of ASC 350, the Company performs its annual indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment test as of each September 30 or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets might be impaired. The impairment test consists of a comparison of estimated fair value with the carrying value. The Company estimates the fair value of its indefinite-lived intangible assets using a direct value methodology. The direct value approach determines fair value using a discounted cash flow model. Cash flow projections involve assumptions by management that include a degree of uncertainty, including future cash flows, long-term growth rates, appropriate discount rates, and other inputs. The Company believes that its estimates are consistent with assumptions that marketplace participants would use to estimate fair value. An impairment loss would be recorded as a reduction in the carrying value of the related indefinite-lived intangible assets and charged to results of operations.

For the purpose of performing the annual impairment test as of September 30, 2012, the indefinite-lived intangible assets were aggregated and combined into a single unit of accounting, consistent with the management of the business on a national scope. No impairment was recognized as a result of the test performed at September 30, 2012 as the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets was in excess of the carrying value. Although the Company does not expect its estimates or assumptions to change significantly in the future, the use of different estimates or assumptions within the discounted cash flow model when determining the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets or using a methodology other than a discounted cash flow model could result in different values for the indefinite-lived intangible assets and may affect any related impairment charge. The most significant assumptions within the Company's discounted cash flow model are the discount rate, the projected growth rate, and projected cash flows. A one percent decline in annual revenue, a one percent decline in annual net cash flows or a one percent increase in discount rate would not result in an impairment as of September 30, 2012.

Furthermore, if any of the indefinite-lived intangible assets are subsequently determined to have a finite useful life, such assets would be tested for impairment in accordance with ASC 360 (Topic 360, “Property, Plant, and Equipment”), and the intangible assets would then be amortized prospectively over the estimated remaining useful life.

Other Spectrum Acquisitions

During the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012, the Company closed on the acquisition of microwave spectrum in the net aggregate amount of $21.9 million in cash.

7

MetroPCS Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

6. Supplemental Balance Sheet Information:

	September 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
	(in thousands)
Other current liabilities:
Deferred vendor credits (1)	$	40,209	$	—
Derivative liabilities	13,630		11,644
Other	12,305		13,568
	$	66,144	$	25,212

 ————————————

(1) Deferred vendor credits consists of credit memos received from a vendor that will be earned upon the return of certain network equipment.

7. Long-term Debt:

Long-term debt consisted of the following (in thousands):

	September 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
Senior Secured Credit Facility	$	2,452,873		$	2,471,916
7 7/8% Senior Notes	1,000,000			1,000,000
6 5/8% Senior Notes	1,000,000			1,000,000
Capital Lease Obligations	322,204			281,167
Total long-term debt	4,775,077			4,753,083
Add: unamortized discount on debt	(7,791		)	(8,602		)
Total debt	4,767,286			4,744,481
Less: current maturities	(36,112		)	(33,460		)
Total long-term debt	$	4,731,174		$	4,711,021

7 ⁷/8% Senior Notes due 2018

In September 2010, Wireless completed the sale of $1.0 billion of principal amount of 7 ⁷/8% Senior Notes due 2018 (“7 ⁷/8% Senior Notes”). The terms of the 7 ⁷/8% Senior Notes are governed by the indenture, the first supplemental indenture, dated September 21, 2010, and the third supplemental indenture, dated December 23, 2010, among Wireless, the guarantors party thereto and the trustee. The net proceeds of the sale of the 7 ⁷/8% Senior Notes were $974.0 million after underwriter fees, discounts and other debt issuance costs of $26.0 million.

6 ⁵/8% Senior Notes due 2020

In November 2010, Wireless completed the sale of $1.0 billion of principal amount of 6 ⁵/8% Senior Notes due 2020 (“6 ⁵/8% Senior Notes”). The terms of the 6 ⁵/8% Senior Notes are governed by the indenture, the second supplemental indenture, dated November 17, 2010, and the fourth supplemental indenture, dated December 23, 2010, among Wireless, the guarantors party thereto and the trustee. The net proceeds of the sale of the 6 ⁵/8% Senior Notes were $988.1 million after underwriter fees, discounts and other debt issuance costs of approximately $11.9 million.

Senior Secured Credit Facility

In November 2006, Wireless entered into the senior secured credit facility, which consisted of a $1.6 billion term loan facility and a $100.0 million revolving credit facility. The term loan facility was repayable in quarterly installments in annual aggregate amounts equal to 1% of the initial aggregate principal amount of $1.6 billion.

In July 2010, Wireless entered into an Amendment and Restatement and Resignation and Appointment Agreement (the “Amendment”) which amended and restated the senior secured credit facility to, among other things, extend the maturity of $1.0 billion of existing term loans (“Tranche B-2 Term Loans”) under the senior secured credit facility to November 2016, increase the interest rate to LIBOR plus 3.50% on the extended portion only and reduce the revolving credit facility from $100.0 million to $67.5 million. The remaining term loans (“Tranche B-1 Term Loans”) under the senior secured credit facility

8

MetroPCS Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

were to mature in November 2013 and the interest rate continued to be LIBOR plus 2.25%. This modification did not result in a loss on extinguishment of debt.

In March 2011, Wireless entered into an Amendment and Restatement Agreement (the “New Amendment”) which further amended and restated the Senior Secured Credit Facility. The New Amendment amended the Senior Secured Credit Facility to, among other things, provide for a new tranche of term loans in the amount of $500.0 million (“Tranche B-3 Term Loans”), with an interest rate of LIBOR plus 3.75% which will mature in March 2018, and increase the interest rate to LIBOR plus 3.821% on the existing Tranche B-1 Term Loans and Tranche B-2 Term Loans. The Tranche B-3 Term Loans are repayable in quarterly installments of $1.25 million. In addition, the aggregate amount of the revolving credit facility was increased from $67.5 million to $100.0 million and the maturity of the revolving credit facility was extended to March 2016. The net proceeds from the Tranche B-3 Term Loans were $490.2 million after underwriter fees, discounts and other debt issuance costs of approximately $9.8 million.

The New Amendment also modified certain limitations under the Senior Secured Credit Facility, including limitations on Wireless' ability to incur additional debt, make certain restricted payments, sell assets, make certain investments or acquisitions, grant liens and pay dividends. In addition, Wireless is no longer subject to certain financial covenants, including maintaining a maximum senior secured consolidated leverage ratio, except under certain circumstances.

In May 2011, Wireless entered into an Incremental Commitment Agreement (the “Incremental Agreement”) which supplements the Senior Secured Credit Facility to provide for an additional $1.0 billion of Tranche B-3 Term Loans (the “Incremental Tranche B-3 Terms Loans”). The Incremental Tranche B-3 Term Loans have an interest rate of LIBOR plus 3.75% and will mature in March 2018. The Incremental Tranche B-3 Term Loans are repayable in quarterly installments of $2.5 million. A portion of the proceeds from the Incremental Tranche B-3 Term Loans was used to prepay the $535.8 million in outstanding principal under the Tranche B-1 Term Loans, with the remaining proceeds to be used for general corporate purposes, including opportunistic spectrum acquisitions. The net proceeds from the Incremental Tranche B-3 Term Loans were $455.5 million after prepayment of the Tranche B-1 Term Loans, underwriter fees, and other debt issuance costs of approximately $7.9 million. The prepayment of the Tranche B-1 Term Loans resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt in the amount of $9.5 million. The Incremental Agreement did not modify the interest rate, maturity date or any of the other terms of the Senior Secured Credit Facility applicable to the Tranche B-2 Term Loans or the existing Tranche B-3 Term Loans.

The facilities under the Senior Secured Credit Facility are guaranteed by MetroPCS, MetroPCS, Inc. and each of Wireless’ direct and indirect present and future wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries. The Senior Secured Credit Facility contains customary events of default, including cross-defaults. The obligations under the Senior Secured Credit Facility are also secured by the capital stock of Wireless as well as substantially all of Wireless’ present and future assets and the capital stock and substantially all of the assets of each of its direct and indirect present and future wholly-owned subsidiaries (except as prohibited by law and certain permitted exceptions).

The interest rate on the outstanding debt under the Senior Secured Credit Facility is variable. The weighted average rate as of September 30, 2012 was 4.614%, which includes the impact of the interest rate protection agreements (See Note 4).

Capital Lease Obligations

The Company has entered into various non-cancelable capital lease agreements, with varying expiration terms through 2027. Assets and future obligations related to capital leases are included in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets in property and equipment and long-term debt, respectively. Depreciation of assets held under capital leases is included in depreciation and amortization expense. As of September 30, 2012, the Company had $10.7 million and $311.5 million of capital lease obligations recorded in current maturities of long-term debt and long-term debt, respectively.

8. Fair Value Measurements:

The Company follows the provisions of ASC 820 (Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures”) which establishes a three-tiered fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation techniques used in fair value calculations. The three levels of inputs are defined as follows:

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MetroPCS Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

• Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Company has the ability to access.

• Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets; or valuations based on models where the significant inputs are observable (e.g., interest rates, yield curves, prepayment speeds, default rates, loss severities, etc.) or can be corroborated by observable market data.

• Level 3 - Valuations based on models where significant inputs are not observable. The unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use.

ASC 820 requires the Company to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. If a financial instrument uses inputs that fall in different levels of the hierarchy, the instrument will be categorized based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value calculation. The Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis include cash and cash equivalents, short and long-term investments securities and derivative financial instruments.

Included in the Company’s cash equivalents are investments in money market funds consisting of U.S. Treasury securities with an original maturity of 90 days or less. Included in the Company’s short-term investments are securities classified as available-for-sale, which are stated at fair value. These securities include U.S. Treasury securities with an original maturity of over 90 days. Fair value is determined based on observable quotes from banks and unadjusted quoted market prices from identical securities in an active market at the reporting date. Significant inputs to the valuation are observable in the active markets and are classified as Level 1 in the hierarchy.

Included in the Company’s short-term and long-term investments are certain auction rate securities, some of which are secured by collateralized debt obligations with a portion of the underlying collateral being mortgage securities or related to mortgage securities. Due to the lack of availability of observable market quotes on the Company’s investment portfolio of auction rate securities, the fair value was estimated based on valuation models that rely exclusively on unobservable Level 3 inputs including those that are based on expected cash flow streams and collateral values, including assessments of counterparty credit quality, default risk underlying the security, discount rates and overall capital market liquidity. The valuation of the Company’s investment portfolio is subject to uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Factors that may impact the Company’s valuation include changes to credit ratings of the securities as well as the underlying assets supporting those securities, rates of default of the underlying assets, underlying collateral values, discount rates, counterparty risk and ongoing strength and quality of market credit and liquidity. Significant inputs to the investments valuation are unobservable in the active markets and are classified as Level 3 in the hierarchy.

Included in the Company’s derivative financial instruments are interest rate swaps. Derivative financial instruments are valued in the market using discounted cash flow techniques. These techniques incorporate Level 1 and Level 2 inputs such as interest rates. These market inputs are utilized in the discounted cash flow calculation considering the instrument’s term, notional amount, discount rate and credit risk. Significant inputs to the derivative valuation for interest rate swaps are observable in the active markets and are classified as Level 2 in the hierarchy.

The following table summarizes assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 30, 2012, as required by ASC 820 (in thousands):

	Fair Value Measurements
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets
Cash equivalents	$	1,903,369	$	—	$	—	$	1,903,369
Short-term investments	499,874		—		8,069		507,943
Restricted cash and investments	2,076		—		—		2,076
Long-term investments	—		—		1,679		1,679
Total assets measured at fair value	$	2,405,319	$	—	$	9,748	$	2,415,067
Liabilities
Derivative liabilities	$	—	$	19,126	$	—	$	19,126
Total liabilities measured at fair value	$	—	$	19,126	$	—	$	19,126

10

MetroPCS Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

The following table summarizes assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2011, as required by ASC 820 (in thousands):

	Fair Value Measurements
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets
Cash equivalents	$	1,815,538	$	—	$	—	$	1,815,538
Short-term investments	299,972		—		—		299,972
Restricted cash and investments	2,576		—		—		2,576
Long-term investments	—		—		6,319		6,319
Total assets measured at fair value	$	2,118,086	$	—	$	6,319	$	2,124,405
Liabilities
Derivative liabilities	$	—	$	21,015	$	—	$	21,015
Total liabilities measured at fair value	$	—	$	21,015	$	—	$	21,015

The following table summarizes the changes in fair value of the Company’s net derivative liabilities included in Level 2 assets (in thousands):

Fair Value Measurements of Net Derivative Liabilities Using Level 2 Inputs	Net Derivative Liabilities
	Three Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011
Beginning balance	$	19,930		$	18,249
Total losses (realized or unrealized):
Included in earnings (1)	3,555			6,424
Included in accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,751		)	(15,076		)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 2	—			—
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements	—			—
Ending balance	$	19,126		$	26,901

 ————————————

(1) Losses included in earnings that are attributable to the reclassification of the effective portion of those derivative liabilities still held at the reporting date as reported in interest expense in the condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

Fair Value Measurements of Net Derivative Liabilities Using Level 2 Inputs	Net Derivative Liabilities
	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011
Beginning balance	$	21,015		$	8,309
Total losses (realized or unrealized):
Included in earnings (2)	11,410			17,182
Included in accumulated other comprehensive loss	(9,521		)	(35,774		)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 2	—			—
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements	—			—
Ending balance	$	19,126		$	26,901

 ————————————

(2) Losses included in earnings that are attributable to the reclassification of the effective portion of those derivative liabilities still held at the reporting date as reported in interest expense in the condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

11

MetroPCS Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

The following table summarizes the changes in fair value of the Company’s Level 3 assets (in thousands):

Fair Value Measurements of Assets Using Level 3 Inputs	Investments
	Three Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011
Beginning balance	$	6,319	$	6,319
Total losses (realized or unrealized):
Included in earnings	—		—
Included in accumulated other comprehensive loss	3,429		—
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3	—		—
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements	—		—
Ending balance	$	9,748	$	6,319

Fair Value Measurements of Assets Using Level 3 Inputs	Investments
	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011
Beginning balance	$	6,319	$	6,319
Total losses (realized or unrealized):
Included in earnings	—		—
Included in accumulated other comprehensive loss	3,429		—
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3	—		—
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements	—		—
Ending balance	$	9,748	$	6,319

The carrying value of the Company’s financial instruments, with the exception of long-term debt including current maturities, reasonably approximate the related fair values as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011. The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt, excluding capital lease obligations, is estimated based on the quoted market prices for the same issues or on the current rates offered to the Company for debt of the same remaining maturities and are classified as Level 1 in the hierarchy. As of September 30, 2012, the carrying value and fair value of long-term debt, including current maturities, were approximately $4.5 billion and $4.6 billion, respectively. As of December 31, 2011, the carrying value and fair value of long-term debt, including current maturities, were approximately $4.5 billion and $4.4 billion, respectively.

Although the Company has determined the estimated fair value amounts using available market information and commonly accepted valuation methodologies, considerable judgment is required in interpreting market data to develop fair value estimates. The fair value estimates are generally based on information available at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011.  As such, the Company’s estimates are not necessarily indicative of the amount that the Company, or holders of the instruments, could realize in a current market exchange and current estimates of fair value could differ significantly.

12

MetroPCS Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

9. Net Income Per Common Share:

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income per common share for the periods indicated (in thousands, except share and per share data):

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
Basic EPS:
Net income applicable to common stock	$	192,667		$	69,326		$	362,507		$	210,040
Amount allocable to common shareholders	99.5		%	99.1		%	99.4		%	99.1		%
Rights to undistributed earnings	$	191,617		$	68,686		$	360,166		$	208,106
Weighted average shares outstanding—basic	363,584,552			362,019,205			363,190,434			359,763,082
Net income per common share—basic	$	0.53		$	0.19		$	0.99		$	0.58
Diluted EPS:
Rights to undistributed earnings	$	191,617		$	68,686		$	360,166		$	208,106
Weighted average shares outstanding—basic	363,584,552			362,019,205			363,190,434			359,763,082
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options	1,435,284			2,846,021			1,249,681			3,954,716
Weighted average shares outstanding—diluted	365,019,836			364,865,226			364,440,115			363,717,798
Net income per common share—diluted	$	0.52		$	0.19		$	0.99		$	0.57

In accordance with ASC 260 (Topic 260, “Earnings Per Share”), unvested share-based payment awards that contain rights to receive non-forfeitable dividends or dividend equivalents, whether paid or unpaid, are considered a “participating security” for purposes of computing earnings or loss per common share and the two-class method of computing earnings per share is required for all periods presented. Under certain of the Company's restricted stock award agreements, unvested shares of restricted stock have rights to receive non-forfeitable dividends. In accordance with ASC 260, those unvested restricted stock awards are considered a “participating security” for purposes of computing earnings per common share and are therefore included in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share.

For the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company has calculated diluted earnings per share under both the treasury stock method and the two-class method. There was not a significant difference in the per share amounts calculated under the two methods, and the two-class method is disclosed. For the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012, approximately 2.0 million and 2.4 million of restricted common shares issued to employees have been excluded from the computation of basic net income per common share since the shares are not vested and remain subject to forfeiture. For the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011, approximately 3.4 million of restricted common shares issued to employees were excluded from the computation of basic net income per common share since the shares were not vested and remained subject to forfeiture.

For the three months endedSeptember 30, 2012 and 2011, 25.6 million and 18.5 million, respectively, of stock options were excluded from the calculation of diluted net income per common share since the effect was anti-dilutive. For the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 and 2011, 25.3 million and 17.8 million, respectively, of stock options were excluded from the calculation of diluted net income per common share since the effect was anti-dilutive.

10. Commitments and Contingencies:

The Company has entered into a broadband services agreement with a carrier for backhaul and interconnect facilities at specified prices. The term of this agreement expires in 2017. The minimum commitment under this pricing agreement is approximately $164.1 million.

Pricing Agreements

The Company entered into pricing agreements with a handset manufacturer for the purchase of wireless handsets at specified prices. These agreements expire on various dates through December 31, 2012. The total aggregate commitment outstanding under these pricing agreements is approximately $24.2 million as of September 30, 2012.

13

MetroPCS Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

Gain on Settlement

In September 2012, the Company settled arbitration and litigation proceedings related to certain securities.  Pursuant to the terms of the confidential settlement agreement, the Company received $52.5 million in cash in exchange for the release of all current and future claims that the Company may have relating to the sale of such securities to the Company, and the Company retains the rights to sell its investment in such securities at a later date.

Litigation

The Company is involved in litigation from time to time, including litigation regarding intellectual property claims, that it considers to be in the normal course of business. Legal proceedings are inherently unpredictable, and the legal proceedings in which the Company is involved often present complex legal and factual issues. The Company intends to vigorously defend against litigation in which it is involved and, where appropriate, engage in discussions to resolve these legal proceedings on terms favorable to the Company. The Company believes that any amounts which parties to such litigation allege it is liable for are not necessarily meaningful indicators of potential liability or any relief, such as injunctive relief, which parties to such litigation seek, are not necessarily meaningful indicators whether such relief will be granted. The Company determines whether it should accrue an estimated loss for a contingency in a particular legal proceeding by assessing whether a loss is probable and can be reasonably estimated. The Company reassesses its views on estimated losses on a quarterly basis to reflect the impact of any developments in the legal proceedings in which it is involved. It is possible, however, that the business, financial condition, results of operations, and liquidity in future periods could be materially adversely affected by increased expenses, including legal and litigation expenses, significant settlement costs, relief granted or agreed to, and/or unfavorable damage awards relating to such legal proceedings. Other than the matters listed below the Company is not currently party to any pending legal proceedings that it believes could, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

MetroPCS, its Board of directors, and an officer, among others, (collectively, the "defendants") have been named as defendants in a series of putative shareholder class and/or derivative actions filed in Delaware and Texas (the “Merger Litigation”) relating to the entry into a Business Combination Agreement, dated October 3, 2012 (the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and between Deutsche Telekom AG, an Aktiengesellschaft organized in Germany (“Deutsche Telekom”), T-Mobile Global Zwischenholding GmbH, a Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung organized in Germany and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom (“Global”), T-Mobile Global Holding GmbH, a Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung organized in Germany and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Global (“Holding”), T-Mobile USA, Inc., a Delaware corporation and direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Holding (“T-Mobile”) and the Company wherein MetroPCS agreed to (1) engage in a recapitalization which entails a reverse stock split and cash payment to shareholders, (2) take Deutsche Telekom's interest in T-Mobile, and (3) issue stock to Deutsche Telekom (the “Transaction”). The Merger Litigation includes: (i) a putative class action lawsuit filed by Paul Benn, an alleged MetroPCS shareholder, on October 11, 2012 in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware, Civil Action No. 7938 (the “Benn Action”); (ii) a putative class action lawsuit filed by Joseph Marino, an alleged MetroPCS shareholder, on October 11, 2012 in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware, Civil Action No. 7940 (the “Marino Action”) (the Benn Action and Marino Actions together, the “Delaware Merger Actions”); (iii) a putative class action and shareholder derivative action filed by Adam Golovoy, an alleged MetroPCS shareholder, on October 10, 2012 in the County Court at Law No. 1, Dallas County, Texas, Civil Action No. CC-12-06144 (the “Golovoy Action”); and (iv) a putative class action and shareholder derivative action filed by Nagendra Polu and Fred Lorquet, who are alleged MetroPCS shareholders, on October 10, 2012 in the County Court at Law No. 5, Dallas County, Texas, Civil Action No. CC-12-06170 (the “Polu-Lorquet Action”) (the Golovoy Action and Polu-Lorquet Actions together, the “Texas Merger Actions”). The various plaintiffs in the Merger Litigation allege that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties by failing to obtain sufficient value for MetroPCS shareholders in the Transaction, to establish a process that adequately protected the interests of MetroPCS shareholders, and to adequately ensure that no conflicts of interest occurred. The plaintiffs in the Merger Litigation also allege that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties by agreeing to certain terms in the Business Combination Agreement that allegedly restricted the defendants' ability to obtain a more favorable offer, including the “no solicitation,” “superior proposal,” and termination fee provisions, and that those provisions, together with the Company's Rights Agreement and a Support Agreement between Deutsche Telekom and Madison Dearborn Partners, constitute breaches of the defendants' fiduciary duties. The plaintiffs in the Merger Litigation seek injunctive relief, unspecified compensatory and/or rescissory damages, unspecified punitive damages, attorney's fees, other expenses, and costs. All of the plaintiffs in the Merger Litigation seek a determination that their alleged claims may be asserted on a class-wide basis. In addition, the plaintiffs in the Texas Merger Actions also assert putative derivative claims, as shareholders on behalf of the Company, against the individually named defendants for breach of fiduciary duty, abuse of control, gross mismanagement, unjust enrichment and corporate waste

14

MetroPCS Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

in connection with the Transaction. Additional similar putative class and/or derivative suits may be filed. Due to the complex nature of the legal and factual issues involved in these actions, the outcome is not presently determinable. If the various actions in the Merger Litigation were to proceed beyond the pleading stage, MetroPCS could be required to incur substantial defense costs and expenses and/or be required to pay substantial damages or settlement costs, and could divert management's attention, all of which could materially adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition and operating results. The Company intends to vigorously defend against the claims in the Merger Litigation.

11. Supplemental Cash Flow Information:

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011
	(in thousands)
Cash paid for interest	$	206,490	$	183,728
Cash paid for income taxes	4,724		4,113

Non-cash investing and financing activities

The Company’s accrued purchases of property and equipment were $136.6 million and $136.5 million as of September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Included within the Company’s accrued purchases are estimates by management for construction services received based on a percentage of completion.

Assets acquired under capital lease obligations were $47.9 million and $25.0 million for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

During the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012, the Company returned obsolete network infrastructure assets to one of its vendors in exchange for $14.7 million in credits towards the purchase of additional network infrastructure assets with the vendor.

12. Related-Party Transactions:

A private equity fund affiliated with one of the Company's greater than 5% stockholders owns:

• A less than 20% interest in a company that provides services to the Company's customers, including handset insurance programs. Pursuant to the Company's agreement with this related-party, the Company bills its customers directly for these services and remits the fees collected from its customers for these services to the related-party. In addition, the Company receives compensation for selling handsets to the related-party;

• A less than 20% equity interest in a company that provides advertising services to the Company; and

• A less than 60% interest in a company that provides distributed antenna systems ("DAS") leases and maintenance to wireless carriers, including the Company. These DAS leases are accounted for as capital or operating leases in the Company's financial statements. This company is no longer a related party as of April 2012 because it is no longer owned by the affiliated fund.

Transactions associated with the related-parties described above are included in various line items in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets, condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, and condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. The following tables summarize the transactions with related-parties (in millions):

	September 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
Network service fees included in prepaid expenses	$	—	$	1.5
Receivables from related-party included in other current assets	3.5		0.7
DAS equipment included in property and equipment, net	—		383.1
Deferred network service fees included in other assets	—		8.2
Payments due to related-party included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	6.0		6.6
Current portion of capital lease obligations included in current maturities of long-term debt	—		7.1
Non-current portion of capital lease obligations included in long-term debt, net	—		240.1
Deferred DAS service fees included in other long-term liabilities	—		1.4

15

MetroPCS Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2012		2011
Fees received by the Company as compensation included in service revenues	$	2.9	$	2.9	$	8.7	$	8.2
Fees received by the Company as compensation included in equipment revenues	9.8		4.9		24.1		16.2
Fees paid by the Company for services and related expenses included in cost of service	—		3.3		3.6		9.6
Fees paid by the Company for services included in selling, general and administrative expenses	1.9		0.6		4.7		3.2
DAS equipment depreciation included in depreciation expense	—		8.7		9.6		27.2
Capital lease interest included in interest expense	—		4.9		5.2		14.3

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011
Capital lease payments included in financing activities	$	1.4	$	5.5

13. Guarantor Subsidiaries:

In connection with Wireless’ 7 ⁷/8% Senior Notes, 6 ⁵/8% Senior Notes, and the Senior Secured Credit Facility, MetroPCS, together with its wholly owned subsidiaries, MetroPCS, Inc., and each of Wireless’ direct and indirect present and future wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries (the “guarantor subsidiaries”), provided guarantees which are full and unconditional as well as joint and several. Certain provisions of the Senior Secured Credit Facility, and the indentures and the supplemental indentures relating to the 7 ⁷/8% Senior Notes and 6 ⁵/8% Senior Notes restrict the ability of Wireless to loan funds or make payments to MetroPCS or MetroPCS, Inc. However, Wireless is allowed to make certain permitted payments to MetroPCS under the terms of the Senior Secured Credit Facility, and the indentures and the supplemental indentures relating to the 7 ⁷/8% Senior Notes and 6 ⁵/8% Senior Notes.

The following information presents condensed consolidating balance sheet information as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, condensed consolidating statement of income and comprehensive income information for the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 and 2011, and condensed consolidating statement of cash flows information for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 and 2011 of the parent company (MetroPCS), the issuer (Wireless), and the guarantor subsidiaries. Investments in subsidiaries held by the parent company and the issuer have been presented using the equity method of accounting.

Subsequent to the issuance of the Company's consolidated financial statements on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2011, management identified certain errors in the presentation of the condensed consolidating statement of cash flows information contained in this footnote. The errors were the result of certain cash equivalent money market investments being incorrectly reported in the Parent column of the condensed consolidating balance sheet information that should have been reported in the Issuer column at September 30, 2011 which resulted in a cash inflow from changes in advances from affiliates being reported in the Parent column and a corresponding cash outflow from changes in advances from affiliates being reported in the Issuer column of the condensed consolidating statement of cash flows information. Accordingly, the comparative historical condensed consolidating statement of cash flows information presented herein has been corrected. The "Guarantor Subsidiaries" and "Consolidated" columns were not impacted by these corrections. This reporting error did not have any impact on the Company's condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011. The impact to the comparative historical condensed consolidating statement of cash flows for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011 is as follows:

16

MetroPCS Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

	Parent As Previously Reported	Parent As Corrected	Issuer As Previously Reported		Issuer As Corrected	Eliminations As Previously Reported		Eliminations As Corrected
	(in thousands)
Change in advances - affiliates	679,885	18,039	(689,633	)	264,367	9,748		(282,406	)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	755,096	93,250	(760,364	)	193,636	9,478		(282,406	)
Change in advances - affiliates	292,154	—	—		—	(9,748	)	282,406
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	346,461	54,307	942,493		942,493	(9,748	)	282,406
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,102,487	148,487	(58,237	)	895,763	—		—
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	1,610,336	656,336	229,705		1,183,705	—		—

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet Information

As of September 30, 2012

	Parent		Issuer		Guarantor Subsidiaries		Eliminations			Consolidated
	(in thousands)
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	515,380	$	1,541,231	$	728	$	—		$	2,057,339
Short-term investments	507,943		—		—		—			507,943
Inventories	—		295,287		17,345		—			312,632
Prepaid expenses	89		2,421		77,530		—			80,040
Advances to subsidiaries	695,842		—		—		(695,842		)	—
Other current assets	67		194,567		32,234		—			226,868
Total current assets	1,719,321		2,033,506		127,837		(695,842		)	3,184,822
Property and equipment, net	—		1,017		4,196,382		—			4,197,399
Long-term investments	1,679		—		—		—			1,679
Investment in subsidiaries	1,607,677		5,417,110		—		(7,024,787		)	—
FCC licenses	—		3,800		2,558,515		—			2,562,315
Other assets	—		97,689		30,183		(2,178		)	125,694
Total assets	$	3,328,677	$	7,553,122	$	6,912,917	$	(7,722,807	)	$	10,071,909
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Advances from subsidiaries	—		260,898		434,944		(695,842		)	—
Other current liabilities	—		246,594		538,056		—			784,650
Total current liabilities	—		507,492		973,000		(695,842		)	784,650
Long-term debt, net	—		4,419,692		311,482		—			4,731,174
Deferred credits	6,230		1,004,818		133,272		(2,178		)	1,142,142
Other long-term liabilities	—		13,443		78,053		—			91,496
Total liabilities	6,230		5,945,445		1,495,807		(698,020		)	6,749,462
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common stock	36		—		—		—			36
Other stockholders’ equity	3,322,411		1,607,677		5,417,110		(7,024,787		)	3,322,411
Total stockholders’ equity	3,322,447		1,607,677		5,417,110		(7,024,787		)	3,322,447
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	3,328,677	$	7,553,122	$	6,912,917	$	(7,722,807	)	$	10,071,909

17

MetroPCS Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet Information

As of December 31, 2011

	Parent		Issuer		Guarantor Subsidiaries		Eliminations			Consolidated
	(in thousands)
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	657,289	$	1,285,266	$	727	$	—		$	1,943,282
Short-term investments	299,972		—		—		—			299,972
Inventories	—		226,124		13,524		—			239,648
Prepaid expenses	—		386		55,326		—			55,712
Advances to subsidiaries	671,193		245,866		—		(917,059		)	—
Other current assets	96		179,855		25,028		—			204,979
Total current assets	1,628,550		1,937,497		94,605		(917,059		)	2,743,593
Property and equipment, net	—		1,378		4,016,621		—			4,017,999
Long-term investments	6,319		—		—		—			6,319
Investment in subsidiaries	1,297,957		4,728,985		—		(6,026,942		)	—
FCC licenses	—		3,800		2,535,241		—			2,539,041
Other assets	—		137,985		39,612		(1,618		)	175,979
Total assets	$	2,932,826	$	6,809,645	$	6,686,079	$	(6,945,619	)	$	9,482,931
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Advances from subsidiaries	—		—		917,059		(917,059		)	—
Other current liabilities	—		243,247		573,476		—			816,723
Total current liabilities	—		243,247		1,490,535		(917,059		)	816,723
Long-term debt, net	—		4,437,924		273,097		—			4,711,021
Deferred credits	5,226		813,498		120,028		(1,618		)	937,134
Other long-term liabilities	—		17,019		73,434		—			90,453
Total liabilities	5,226		5,511,688		1,957,094		(918,677		)	6,555,331
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common stock	36		—		—		—			36
Other stockholders’ equity	2,927,564		1,297,957		4,728,985		(6,026,942		)	2,927,564
Total stockholders’ equity	2,927,600		1,297,957		4,728,985		(6,026,942		)	2,927,600
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	2,932,826	$	6,809,645	$	6,686,079	$	(6,945,619	)	$	9,482,931

18

MetroPCS Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income Information

Three Months Ended September 30, 2012

	Parent			Issuer			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	(in thousands)
REVENUES:
Total Revenues	$	—		$	9,026		$	1,257,474		$	(7,340	)	$	1,259,160
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of revenues	—			8,263			638,049			(7,340		)	638,972
Selling, general and administrative expenses	—			763			162,646			—			163,409
Other operating expenses	—			53			164,488			—			164,541
Total operating expenses	—			9,079			965,183			(7,340		)	966,922
(Loss) income from operations	—			(53		)	292,291			—			292,238
OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME):
Interest expense	—			62,798			3,857			—			66,655
Non-operating (income) expenses	(52,911		)	(3		)	(151		)	—			(53,065		)
Earnings from consolidated subsidiaries	(139,756		)	(287,870		)	—			427,626			—
Total other (income) expense	(192,667		)	(225,075		)	3,706			427,626			13,590
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	192,667			225,022			288,585			(427,626		)	278,648
Provision for income taxes	—			(85,266		)	(715		)	—			(85,981		)
Net income (loss)	$	192,667		$	139,756		$	287,870		$	(427,626	)	$	192,667
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	3,962			506			—			(506		)	3,962
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	196,629		$	140,262		$	287,870		$	(428,132	)	$	196,629

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income Information

Three Months Ended September 30, 2011

	Parent			Issuer			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	(in thousands)
REVENUES:
Total Revenues	$	—		$	4,558		$	1,208,170		$	(7,340	)	$	1,205,388
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of revenues	—			4,180			728,666			(7,340		)	725,506
Selling, general and administrative expenses	—			378			162,081			—			162,459
Other operating expenses	—			91			140,501			—			140,592
Total operating expenses	—			4,649			1,031,248			(7,340		)	1,028,557
(Loss) income from operations	—			(91		)	176,922			—			176,831
OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME):
Interest expense	—			64,750			4,761			—			69,511
Non-operating (income) expenses	(452		)	(47		)	(125		)	—			(624		)
Earnings from consolidated subsidiaries	(68,874		)	(171,801		)	—			240,675			—
Total other (income) expense	(69,326		)	(107,098		)	4,636			240,675			68,887
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	69,326			107,007			172,286			(240,675		)	107,944
Provision benefit for income taxes	—			(38,133		)	(485		)	—			(38,618		)
Net income (loss)	$	69,326		$	68,874		$	171,801		$	(240,675	)	$	69,326
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	(5,365		)	(5,330		)	—			5,330			(5,365		)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	63,961		$	63,544		$	171,801		$	(235,345	)	$	63,961

19

MetroPCS Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income Information

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012

	Parent			Issuer			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	(in thousands)
REVENUES:
Total Revenues	$	—		$	22,264		$	3,816,686		$	(22,020	)	$	3,816,930
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of revenues	—			21,165			2,133,958			(22,020		)	2,133,103
Selling, general and administrative expenses	—			1,099			506,398			—			507,497
Other operating expenses	—			167			473,709			—			473,876
Total operating expenses	—			22,431			3,114,065			(22,020		)	3,114,476
(Loss) income from operations	—			(167		)	702,621			—			702,454
OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME):
Interest expense	—			191,080			15,144			—			206,224
Non-operating (income) expenses	(53,643		)	(8		)	(475		)	—			(54,126		)
Earnings from consolidated subsidiaries	(308,864		)	(688,126		)	—			996,990			—
Total other (income) expense	(362,507		)	(497,054		)	14,669			996,990			152,098
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	362,507			496,887			687,952			(996,990		)	550,356
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	—			(188,023		)	174			—			(187,849		)
Net income (loss)	$	362,507		$	308,864		$	688,126		$	(996,990	)	$	362,507
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	4,670			1,173			—			(1,173		)	4,670
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	367,177		$	310,037		$	688,126		$	(998,163	)	$	367,177

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income Information

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011

	Parent			Issuer			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	(in thousands)
REVENUES:
Total Revenues	$	—		$	15,483		$	3,616,464		$	(22,730	)	$	3,609,217
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of revenues	—			14,389			2,193,090			(22,730		)	2,184,749
Selling, general and administrative expenses	—			1,094			485,692			—			486,786
Other operating expenses	—			245			405,014			—			405,259
Total operating expenses	—			15,728			3,083,796			(22,730		)	3,076,794
(Loss) income from operations	—			(245		)	532,668			—			532,423
OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME):
Interest expense	—			180,044			13,007			—			193,051
Non-operating (income) expenses	(1,439		)	9,462			(578		)	—			7,445
Earnings from consolidated subsidiaries	(208,601		)	(521,670		)	—			730,271			—
Total other (income) expense	(210,040		)	(332,164		)	12,429			730,271			200,496
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	210,040			331,919			520,239			(730,271		)	331,927
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	—			(123,318		)	1,431			—			(121,887		)
Net income (loss)	$	210,040		$	208,601		$	521,670		$	(730,271	)	$	210,040
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	(11,532		)	(11,464		)	—			11,464			(11,532		)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	198,508		$	197,137		$	521,670		$	(718,807	)	$	198,508

20

MetroPCS Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows Information

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012

	Parent			Issuer			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	(in thousands)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$	938		$	(311,239	)	$	1,158,769		$	—		$	848,468
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property and equipment	—			(443		)	(587,889		)	—			(588,332		)
Purchase of investments	(692,147		)	—			—			—			(692,147		)
Proceeds from maturity of investments	492,500			—			—			—			492,500
Change in advances – affiliates	4,382			245,866			—			(250,248		)	—
Other investing activities, net	52,500			39,830			(22,101		)	—			70,229
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(142,765		)	285,253			(609,990		)	(250,248		)	(717,750		)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Change in advances – affiliates	—			291,862			(542,110		)	250,248			—
Change in book overdraft	—			9,131			—			—			9,131
Other financing activities, net	(82		)	(19,042		)	(6,668		)	—			(25,792		)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(82		)	281,951			(548,778		)	250,248			(16,661		)
(DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(141,909		)	255,965			1			—			114,057
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	657,289			1,285,266			727			—			1,943,282
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	$	515,380		$	1,541,231		$	728		$	—		$	2,057,339

21

MetroPCS Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows Information

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011

	Parent			Issuer			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	(in thousands)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$	930		$	(240,366	)	$	993,096		$	—		$	753,660
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property and equipment	—			(5,790		)	(693,835		)	—			(699,625		)
Purchase of investments	(462,289		)	—			—			—			(462,289		)
Proceeds from maturity of investments	537,500			—			—			—			537,500
Change in advances - affiliates	18,039			264,367			—			(282,406		)	—
Other investing activities, net	—			(64,941		)	(10,653		)	—			(75,594		)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	93,250			193,636			(704,488		)	(282,406		)	(700,008		)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Change in advances - affiliates	—			—			(282,406		)	282,406			—
Change in book overdraft	—			14,081			—			—			14,081
Proceeds from debt issuance, net of discount	—			1,497,500			—			—			1,497,500
Retirement of long-term debt	—			(535,792		)	—			—			(535,792		)
Other financing activities, net	54,307			(33,296		)	(6,222		)	—			14,789
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	54,307			942,493			(288,628		)	282,406			990,578
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	148,487			895,763			(20		)	—			1,044,230
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	507,849			287,942			740			—			796,531
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	$	656,336		$	1,183,705		$	720		$	—		$	1,840,761

14. Subsequent Events:

Business Combination Agreement

On October 3, 2012, the Company entered into the Business Combination Agreement with Deutsche Telekom, Global, Holding and T-Mobile.

 Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Business Combination Agreement, the Company has agreed (i) to effect a recapitalization and reverse stock split (the “Reverse Stock Split”) of the Company's common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), pursuant to which each share of Company common stock, par value $0.00001 per share ("New Common Stock") outstanding as of the effective time of the Reverse Stock Split (the “Effective Time”) will thereafter represent one-half of a share of Common Stock and (ii) as part of such recapitalization, to make a payment in cash (the “Cash Payment”) in an amount equal to $1.5 billion, without interest, in the aggregate to the Company's stockholders of record immediately following the Effective Time. Immediately following the Cash Payment, Holding will deliver to the Company all of its interest in T-Mobile ("the "T-Mobile Stock Acquisition") and the Company will issue and deliver to Holding or its designee shares of Common Stock equal to 74% of the fully-diluted shares of New Common Stock outstanding immediately following the Cash Payment (on a grossed-up basis to take into account the number of shares of New Common Stock so issued to Holding or its designee) (the “Stock Issuance,” and collectively with the Reverse Stock Split, the Cash Payment, and the T-Mobile Stock Acquisition, the “Transaction”). On the business day immediately following the closing of the Transaction (the “Closing”), MetroPCS, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“HoldCo”), will merge with and into MetroPCS Wireless, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of HoldCo (“Wireless”), with Wireless continuing as the surviving entity. Immediately thereafter, Wireless will merge with and into T-Mobile, with T-Mobile continuing as the surviving entity.

Completion of the Transaction is subject to certain conditions, including: (i) obtaining the approvals from the Company's stockholders to the stock issuance and the amended and restated articles of incorporation effecting the reverse stock split ("Required Approvals"), (ii) obtaining listing approvals from the New York Stock Exchange in connection with the Stock Issuance, (iii) the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, (iv) receipt of Federal Communications Commission and other material governmental

22

MetroPCS Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

consents and approvals required to consummate the Transaction, (v) the termination of any review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States with respect to the Transaction, and (vi) the absence of any statute, rule, executive order, regulation, order or injunction prohibiting the consummation of the Transaction. The obligation of each of the parties to consummate the Transaction is also conditioned upon the accuracy of the other party's representations and warranties, the other party having performed in all material respects its obligations under the Business Combination Agreement and no circumstances occurring that would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the other party.

The Business Combination Agreement grants both the Company and Deutsche Telekom the right to terminate the Business Combination Agreement under certain circumstances. Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, the Company will be obligated to pay Deutsche Telekom a termination fee of $150.0 million if (a) Deutsche Telekom terminates the Business Combination Agreement because there has been a change in the MetroPCS board of directors recommendation ("Recommendation Change"), (b) the Company or Deutsche Telekom terminates the Business Combination Agreement because the Required Approvals are not obtained following (i) a material breach by the Company of the covenants requiring the Company to file the proxy statement, call and hold the stockholders meeting, not solicit alternative transaction proposals or continue to recommend that its stockholders deliver the Required Approvals or (ii) a Recommendation Change, and (c) the Company or Deutsche Telekom terminates the Business Combination Agreement because the Required Approvals are not obtained (other than under the circumstances described in the immediately preceding sentence) or because the outside date has passed, and (i) an alternative transaction proposal has been made and is pending at the time of termination and, within twelve months after such termination, the Company enters into, publicly approves or submits to its stockholders for approval, an agreement with respect to an alternative transaction, or it consummates an alternative transaction (which in each case need not be the same proposal or with the same party that made the earlier proposal), or (ii) an alternative transaction proposal has been made but was withdrawn prior to the stockholder meeting at which the Company's stockholders voted not to grant the Required Approvals and, within twelve months after such termination, the Company enters into, publicly approves or submits to its stockholders for approval, an agreement with respect to an alternative transaction with the same party that made the earlier proposal that had been withdrawn. If the Business Combination Agreement is terminated due solely to a failure to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals, Deutsche Telekom must pay the Company a $250.0 million termination fee.

23

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements made in this quarterly report that are not statements of historical fact, including statements about our plans, beliefs, opinions, projections and expectations, are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and should be evaluated as such. Forward-looking statements include our plans and focus in the fourth quarter, the causes of customer turnover, or churn, the effect of seasonality on our business and churn, the importance of our key non-GAAP financial measures and their use to compare companies in the industry, the advantages of a merger with T-Mobile, our value proposition, the reasons for our operational and financial results, our ability to predict and meet customer demands, the launch of our 4G LTE for All initiative, availability of handsets, our network capabilities, our ability to increase subscribers, impact of increased sales on our CPU and CPGA and expectations regarding future CPGA, our ability to drive profitable growth, whether existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments and anticipated cash flows from operations will be sufficient to fully fund planned operations and expenditures, the challenges and opportunities facing our business, our competitive positioning and promotional strategies, competitive differentiations, our guidance on capital expenditures for 2012 and statements that may relate to our plans, objectives, strategies, goals, future events, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs and other information that is not historical information. These forward-looking statements often include words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “suggests,” “plan,” “believe,” “intend,” “estimates,” “targets,” “views,” “becomes,” “projects,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “may,” “will,” “forecast,” and other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are contained throughout this quarterly report, including in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Company Overview,” "Seasonality," "Performance Measures," "Liquidity and Capital Resources," "Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosure About Market Risk," "Legal Proceedings," and "Risk Factors" sections of this report.

We base the forward-looking statements made in this report on our current expectations, estimates, plans, beliefs, opinions and assumptions that have been made in light of our experience in the industry, as well as our perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances and at such times. As you read and consider this quarterly report, you should understand that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and no assurance can be given that such statements or results will occur, be realized, or be obtained. Although we believe that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable expectations, beliefs, opinions and assumptions at the time they are made, you should be aware that many of these factors are beyond our control and that many factors could affect our actual financial results, performance or results of operations and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may materially affect such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited, to:

• the ability of our vendors to supply the handsets we need in the time frames we require;

• our and our competitors' current and planned promotions and marketing, sales and other initiatives and our ability to respond to and support them;

• our ability to manage our networks to deliver the services, content, service quality and speed our customers expect and demand and to maintain and increase the capacity of our networks and business systems to satisfy the demands of our customers and the demands placed by devices on our networks;

• the highly competitive nature of our industry and changes in the competitive landscape;

• our ability to successfully combine with T-Mobile and achieve the cost and capital expenditures savings and synergies we expect;

• our ability to remain focused and keep all employees focused on the business during the pendency of the T-Mobile transaction;

• the current economic environment in the United States; disruptions to the credit and financial markets in the United States; and contractions or limited growth on consumer spending as a result of the uncertainty in the United States economy;

• our ability to manage our growth, achieve planned growth, manage churn rates, maintain our cost structure and achieve additional economies of scale;

• our ability to negotiate and maintain acceptable agreements with our suppliers and vendors, including roaming arrangements;

• the seasonality of our business and any failure to have strong customer growth in the first and fourth quarters;

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• the rates, nature, collectability and applicability of taxes and regulatory fees on the services we provide and increases or changes in taxes and regulatory fees or the services to, or the manner in, which such taxes and fees are applied, calculated, or collected;

• the rapid technological changes in our industry, our ability to adapt, respond and deploy new technologies and successfully offer new services using such new technology;

• our ability to fulfill the demands and expectations of our customers, provide the customer care our customers want, expect, or demand, secure the products, services, applications, content and network infrastructure equipment we need, or which our customers or potential customers want, expect or demand;

• the availability of additional spectrum, our ability to secure additional spectrum, or secure it at acceptable prices, when we need it;

• our ability to adequately defend against suits filed by others and to enforce or protect our intellectual property rights;

• our capital structure, including our indebtedness amounts, the limitations imposed by the covenants in the documents governing our indebtedness and the maintenance of our financial and disclosure controls and procedures;

• our ability to attract and retain key members of management and train personnel;

• our reliance on third parties to provide distribution, products, software content and services that are integral, used or sold by our business and the ability of our suppliers to perform, develop and timely provide us with technological developments, products and services we need to remain competitive;

• possible disruptions or intrusions of our network, billing, operational support and customer care systems which may limit or disrupt our ability to provide service or which may cause disclosure or improper use of our customer's information and the associated harm to our customers, our systems, our reputation and our goodwill;

• governmental regulation affecting our services and changes in government regulation, and the costs of compliance and our failure to comply with such regulations; and

• other factors described under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 as updated or supplemented under “Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors” in each of our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q as filed with the SEC, including this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2012.

These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this quarterly report, are based on current assumptions and expectations, and are subject to the factors above, among other things, and involve risks, uncertainties, events, circumstances and assumptions, many of which are beyond our ability to foresee, control or predict. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which are based on current assumptions and expectations and speak only as of the date of this report. The results presented for any period, including the three months endedSeptember 30, 2012, may not be reflective of results for any subsequent period or for the fiscal year. All future written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by our cautionary statements. We do not intend to, are not obligated to, and do not undertake a duty to, update any forward-looking statement in the future to reflect the occurrence of events or circumstances after the date of this report, except as required by law.

Company Overview

Except as expressly stated, the financial condition and results of operations discussed throughout Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations are those of MetroPCS Communications, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, including MetroPCS Wireless, Inc., or Wireless. References to “MetroPCS,” “MetroPCS Communications,” “our Company,” “the Company,” “we,” “our,” “ours” and “us” refer to MetroPCS Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.

We are a wireless telecommunications carrier that currently offers wireless broadband mobile services primarily in selected major metropolitan areas in the United States, including the Atlanta, Boston, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Orlando/Jacksonville, Philadelphia, Sacramento, San Francisco and Tampa/Sarasota metropolitan areas. As of September 30, 2012, we hold licenses for wireless spectrum suitable for wireless broadband mobile services covering a total population of 142 million people in and around many of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States. In addition, we have roaming agreements with other wireless broadband mobile carriers that allow us to offer our customers service in many areas when they are outside our service area. These roaming agreements, together with the area we serve with our own networks, allows our customers to receive service in an area covering over 280 million in total population under the Metro USA^® brand. We provide our services using code division multiple access (CDMA) networks using 1xRTT and EVDO technology and fourth generation long term evolution technology (4G LTE).

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As a result of the significant growth we have experienced since we launched operations, our results of operations to date are not necessarily indicative of the results that can be expected in future periods. We expect that our number of customers will continue to increase over time, which will continue to contribute to increases in our revenues and operating expenses.

We sell products and services to customers through our Company-owned retail stores as well as indirectly through relationships with independent retailers. Our service allows our customers to place unlimited local calls from within our local service area and to receive unlimited calls from any area while in our service area, for a flat-rate monthly service fee. In January 2010, we introduced a new family of service plans, which include all applicable taxes and regulatory fees and offering nationwide voice, text and web access services on an unlimited, no long-term contract, paid-in-advance, flat-rate basis beginning at $40 per month. For an additional $5 to $30 per month, our customers may select alternative service plans that offer additional features predominately on an unlimited basis. We also offer discounts to customers who purchase services for additional handsets on the same account. In January 2011, we introduced new 4G LTE service plans that allow customers to enjoy voice, text and web access services at fixed monthly rates starting as low as $40 per month. In 2012, we introduced a nationwide 4G LTE data, talk and text service plan for $25 per month, including all applicable taxes and regulatory fees. For additional usage fees, we also provide certain other value-added services. All of these plans require payment in advance for one month of service. If no payment is made in advance for the following month of service, service is suspended at the end of the month that was paid for by the customer and, if the customer does not pay within 30 days, the customer is terminated. We believe our service plans differentiate us from the more complex plans and long-term contract requirements of traditional wireless carriers.

Subsequent Events

On October 3, 2012, we announced we had entered into a definitive Business Combination Agreement to combine our business with T-Mobile. Upon completion of the transaction, which we expect to occur in the first half of 2013, MetroPCS and T-Mobile will create a new company to be called T-Mobile that will operate T-Mobile and MetroPCS as separate customer units. The Business Combination Agreement is structured as a recapitalization, in which MetroPCS will declare a 1 for 2 reverse stock split, make a cash payment of $1.5 billion, or approximately $4.09 per share prior to the reverse stock split, to its stockholders and acquire all of T-Mobile's capital stock by issuing Deutsche Telekom 74% of MetroPCS' common stock on a pro forma basis. Upon completion of the combination, MetroPCS stockholders will own 26% of the combined company. For further details and information regarding the transaction, please see the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 3, 2012 with the SEC and the investor presentation filed as solicitation material under Schedule 14A on October 3, 2012 with the SEC. Additionally, the transaction will be further described in a proxy statement to be filed by MetroPCS with the SEC.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of certain assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. We have discussed those estimates that we believe are critical and require the use of complex judgment in their application in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, on February 29, 2012.

Our accounting policies and the methodologies and assumptions we apply under them have not changed from our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Revenues

We derive our revenues from the following sources:

Service. We sell wireless broadband mobile services. The various types of service revenues associated with wireless broadband mobile for our customers include monthly recurring charges for airtime, one-time or monthly recurring charges for optional features (including nationwide long distance, unlimited international long distance, unlimited text messaging, international text messaging, voicemail, downloads, ringtones, games and content applications, unlimited directory assistance, enhanced directory assistance, ring back tones, mobile Internet browsing, location based services, mobile instant messaging, navigation, video streaming, video on demand, push e-mail and nationwide roaming) and charges for long distance service. Service revenues also include intercarrier compensation and nonrecurring service charges to customers.

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Equipment. We sell wireless broadband mobile handsets and accessories that are used by our customers in connection with our wireless broadband mobile services. This equipment is also sold to our independent retailers to facilitate distribution to our customers.

Costs and Expenses

Our costs and expenses include:

Cost of Service. The major components of our cost of service are:

• Cell Site Costs. We incur expenses for the rent of cell sites, network facilities, engineering operations, field technicians and related utility and maintenance charges.

• Interconnection Costs. We pay other telecommunications companies and third-party providers for leased facilities and usage-based charges for transporting and terminating network traffic from our cell sites and switching centers. We have pre-negotiated rates for transport and termination of calls originated by our customers, including negotiated interconnection agreements with relevant exchange carriers in each of our service areas.

• Variable Long Distance. We pay charges to other telecommunications companies for long distance service provided to our customers. These variable charges are based on our customers’ usage, applied at pre-negotiated rates with the long distance carriers.

• Customer Support. We pay charges to nationally recognized third-party providers for customer care, billing and payment processing services.

Cost of Equipment. Cost of equipment primarily includes the cost of handsets and accessories purchased from third-party vendors to resell to our customers and independent retailers in connection with our services. We do not manufacture any of this equipment.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Our selling expenses include advertising and promotional costs associated with marketing and selling to new customers and fixed charges such as retail store rent and retail associates’ salaries. General and administrative expenses include support functions including technical operations, finance, accounting, human resources, information technology and legal services. We record stock-based compensation expense in cost of service and in selling, general and administrative expenses for expense associated with employee stock options and restricted stock awards, which is measured at the date of grant, based on the estimated fair value of the award.

Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation is applied using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets once the assets are placed in service, which are five to ten years for network infrastructure assets, three to ten years for capitalized interest, up to fifteen years for capital leases, approximately one to eight years for office equipment, which includes software and computer equipment, approximately three to seven years for furniture and fixtures and five years for vehicles. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the term of the respective leases, which includes renewal periods that are reasonably assured, or the estimated useful life of the improvement.

Interest Expense and Interest Income. Interest expense includes interest incurred on our borrowings and capital lease obligations, amortization of debt issuance costs and amortization of discounts and premiums on long-term debt. Interest income is earned primarily on our cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments.

Income Taxes. For the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 and 2011 we paid no federal income taxes. For the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 we paid $0.8 million and $4.7 million, respectively, of state income tax. For the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011 we paid $0.2 million and $4.1 million, respectively, of state income tax.

Seasonality

Our customer activity is influenced by seasonal effects related to traditional retail selling periods and other factors that arise from our target customer base. Based on historical results, we generally expect the net customer additions to be strongest in the first and fourth quarters. Softening of sales and increased customer turnover, or churn, in the second and third calendar quarters of the year usually combine to result in fewer net customer additions or in net customer losses. However, sales activity and churn can be strongly affected by the launch of new metropolitan areas, introduction of new price plans, competition, general economic conditions and by promotional activity, which could reduce, accentuate, increase or outweigh certain seasonal effects.

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Results of Operations

Three Months Ended September 30, 2012 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2011

Operating Items

Set forth below is a summary of certain financial information for the periods indicated:

	Three Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		Change
	(in thousands)
REVENUES:
Service revenues	$	1,121,957	$	1,131,054	(1	%)
Equipment revenues	137,203		74,334		85	%
Total revenues	1,259,160		1,205,388		4	%
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of service (excluding depreciation and amortization disclosed separately below)(1)	373,032		382,033		(2	%)
Cost of equipment	265,940		343,473		(23	%)
Selling, general and administrative expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization disclosed separately below)(1)	163,409		162,459		1	%
Depreciation and amortization	163,089		139,309		17	%
Loss on disposal of assets	1,452		1,283		13	%
Total operating expenses	966,922		1,028,557		(6	%)
Income from operations	$	292,238	$	176,831	65	%

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(1) Cost of service and selling, general and administrative expenses include stock-based compensation expense. For the three months endedSeptember 30, 2012, cost of service includes $0.7 million and selling, general and administrative expenses includes $8.5 million of stock-based compensation expense. For the three months endedSeptember 30, 2011, cost of service includes $0.8 million and selling, general and administrative expenses includes $9.1 million of stock-based compensation expense.

Service Revenues. Service revenues decreased $9.1 million, or 1%, to approximately $1.1 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2012 from approximately $1.1 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2011. The decrease in service revenues is primarily attributable to a net loss of 169,289 customers during the twelve months ended September 30, 2012 as well as a $0.30 decrease in average revenue per customer for the three months ended September 30, 2012 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2011.

Equipment Revenues. Equipment revenues increased $62.9 million, or 85%, to $137.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 from $74.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011. The increase is primarily attributable to higher average price of handsets sold accounting for a $70.2 million increase, as well as a $46.1 million increase in equipment revenues associated with a decrease in commissions paid to independent retailers due to a lower volume of handsets sold. These items were partially offset by a 47% decrease in gross customer additions which led to a $31.8 million decrease, as well as a decrease in upgrade handset sales to existing customers which led to a $20.8 million decrease.

Cost of Service. Cost of service decreased $9.0 million, or 2%, to $373.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 from $382.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011. The decrease in cost of service is primarily attributable to a decrease in long distance cost, as well as a decrease in taxes and regulatory fees during the three months ended September 30, 2012 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2011. These decreases were partially offset by expenses associated with the deployment of additional network infrastructure, including network infrastructure for 4G LTE.

Cost of Equipment. Cost of equipment decreased $77.5 million, or 23%, to $266.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 from $343.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011. The decrease is primarily attributable to a 47% decrease in gross customer additions which accounted for an $83.2 million decrease, as well as a decrease in handset upgrades by existing customers which led to a $37.8 million decrease. These decreases were partially offset by a higher average cost of handsets accounting for a $43.5 million increase.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $0.9 million, or 1%, to $163.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 from $162.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011. Selling expenses decreased by $9.9 million, or 11%, for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2011. The decrease is primarily attributable to an $8.6 million decrease in

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marketing and advertising expenses. General and administrative expenses increased $11.4 million, or 18%, for the three months ended September 30, 2012 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2011, primarily due to an increase in commissions paid to independent retailers for customer reactivations, coupled with an increase in legal and professional service fees.

Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense increased $23.8 million, or 17%, to $163.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 from $139.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011. The increase related primarily to network infrastructure assets placed into service during the twelve months ended September 30, 2012 to support the continued growth and expansion of our network.

Loss on Disposal of Assets. Loss on disposal of assets increased $0.2 million, or 13%, to $1.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 from $1.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011. The loss on disposal of assets during the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 was due primarily to the disposal of assets related to certain network technology that was retired and replaced with newer technology.

Non-Operating Items

	Three Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		Change
	(in thousands)
Interest expense	$	66,655	$	69,511	(4	%)
Gain on settlement	52,500		—		100	%
Provision for income taxes	85,981		38,618		123	%
Net income	192,667		69,326		178	%

Interest Expense. Interest expense decreased $2.8 million, or 4%, to $66.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 from $69.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011.  The decrease in interest expense was primarily attributable to a $2.9 million reduction in interest expense on the Senior Secured Credit Facility as a result of a decrease in the interest rate outstanding under the Senior Secured Credit Facility to 4.614% as of September 30, 2012 from 5.028% as of September 30, 2011. Our weighted average interest rate decreased to 5.82% for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to 6.05% for the three months ended September 30, 2011. Average debt outstanding for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 was approximately $4.5 billion, respectively.

Gain on Settlement. In September 2012, we settled arbitration and litigation proceedings related to certain securities. Pursuant to the terms of the confidential settlement agreement, we received $52.5 million in cash in exchange for the release of all current and future claims that we may have relating to the sale of such securities to us, and we retain the rights to sell our investment in such securities at a later date.

Provision for Income Taxes. Income tax expense increased $47.4 million, or 123%, to $86.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 from $38.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011.  The effective tax rate was 30.9% and 35.8% for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  For the three months ended September 30, 2012, our effective tax rate differs from the statutory federal rate of 35.0% primarily due to a reduction to a valuation allowance as a result of a settlement on certain securities, as well as net state and local taxes, non-deductible expenses, federal and state income tax credits and a net change in uncertain tax positions.  For the three months ended September 30, 2011, our effective tax rate differs from the statutory federal rate of 35.0% due to net state and local taxes, tax credits, net change in uncertain tax positions, amended return refunds, non-deductible expenses, and provision adjustments.

Net Income. Net income increased $123.4 million, or 178%, to $192.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $69.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011. The increase was primarily attributable to a 65% increase in income from operations, as well as the gain on settlement, partially offset by a 123% increase in provision for income taxes.

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Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011

Operating Items

Set forth below is a summary of certain financial information for the periods indicated:

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		Change
	(in thousands)
REVENUES:
Service revenues	$	3,439,678	$	3,294,563	4	%
Equipment revenues	377,252		314,654		20	%
Total revenues	3,816,930		3,609,217		6	%
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of service (excluding depreciation and amortization disclosed separately below)(1)	1,130,377		1,089,480		4	%
Cost of equipment	1,002,726		1,095,269		(8	%)
Selling, general and administrative expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization disclosed separately below)(1)	507,497		486,786		4	%
Depreciation and amortization	469,258		402,528		17	%
Loss on disposal of assets	4,618		2,731		69	%
Total operating expenses	3,114,476		3,076,794		1	%
Income from operations	$	702,454	$	532,423	32	%

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(1) Cost of service and selling, general and administrative expenses include stock-based compensation expense. For the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012, cost of service includes $2.3 million and selling, general and administrative expenses includes $26.4 million of stock-based compensation expense. For the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011, cost of service includes $2.6 million and selling, general and administrative expenses includes $29.5 million of stock-based compensation expense.

Service Revenues. Service revenues increased $145.1 million, or 4%, to approximately $3.4 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 from approximately $3.3 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The increase in service revenues is primarily attributable to higher average subscribers during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

Equipment Revenues. Equipment revenues increased $62.6 million, or 20%, to $377.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 from $314.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The increase is primarily attributable to a $102.7 million increase in equipment revenues associated with a decrease in commissions paid to independent retailers due to a lower volume of handsets sold as well as higher average price of handsets sold, accounting for a $99.9 million increase. These items were partially offset by a 39% decrease in gross customer additions which led to a $111.3 million decrease, as well as a decrease in upgrade handset sales to existing customers, which led to a $27.6 million decrease.

Cost of Service. Cost of service increased $40.9 million, or 4%, to approximately $1.1 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 from approximately $1.1 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The increase in cost of service is primarily attributable to expenses associated with the deployment of additional network infrastructure, including network infrastructure for 4G LTE, as well as additional roaming expenses associated with Metro USA. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in long distance cost, as well as a decrease in taxes and regulatory fees during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

Cost of Equipment. Cost of equipment decreased $92.5 million, or 8%, to approximately $1.0 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 from approximately $1.1 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The decrease is primarily attributable to a 39% decrease in gross customer additions which accounted for a $225.5 million decrease, as well as a decrease in handset upgrades by existing customers which led to a $48.0 million decrease. These decreases were partially offset by a higher average cost of handsets accounting for a $176.9 million increase.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $20.7 million, or 4%, to $507.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 from $486.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. Selling expenses decreased by $5.6 million, or 2%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The decrease is primarily attributable to a $4.7 million decrease in marketing and advertising expenses. General and administrative expenses increased $29.4 million, or 15%, for the nine months

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ended September 30, 2012 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2011, primarily due to an increase in commissions paid to independent retailers for customer reactivations, coupled with an increase in legal and professional service fees.

Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense increased $66.8 million, or 17%, to $469.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 from $402.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The increase related primarily to network infrastructure assets placed into service during the twelve months ended September 30, 2012 to support the continued growth and expansion of our network.

Loss on Disposal of Assets. Loss on disposal of assets increased $1.9 million, or 69%, to $4.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 from $2.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The loss on disposal of assets during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 was due primarily to the disposal of assets related to certain network technology that was retired and replaced with newer technology.

Non-Operating Items

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		Change
	(in thousands)
Interest expense	$	206,224	$	193,051	7	%
Gain on settlement	52,500		—		100	%
Loss on extinguishment of debt	—		9,536		(100	%)
Provision for income taxes	187,849		121,887		54	%
Net income	362,507		210,040		73	%

Interest Expense. Interest expense increased $13.2 million, or 7%, to $206.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 from $193.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.  The increase in interest expense was primarily attributable to a $7.1 million increase in interest expense on the Senior Secured Credit Facility as a result of financing transactions that resulted in an increase in average debt outstanding to $4.5 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $4.1 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2011. In addition, capitalized interest expense decreased $6.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 when compared to the same period in 2011. Our weighted average interest rate decreased to 5.85% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to 6.11% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. 

Gain on Settlement. In September 2012, we settled arbitration and litigation proceedings related to certain securities. Pursuant to the terms of the confidential settlement agreement, we received $52.5 million in cash in exchange for the release of all current and future claims that we may have relating to the sale of such securities to us, and we retain the rights to sell our investment in such securities at a later date.

Loss on Extinguishment of Debt. The loss on extinguishment of debt of $9.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was due to the repayment of $535.8 million in outstanding principal under the Tranche B-1 Term Loans in May 2011.

Provision for Income Taxes. Income tax expense increased $66.0 million, or 54%, to $187.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 from $121.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.  The effective tax rate was 34.1% and 36.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, our effective tax rate differs from the statutory federal rate of 35.0% primarily due to a reduction to a valuation allowance as a result of a settlement on certain securities, as well as net state and local taxes, non-deductible expenses, federal and state income tax credits and a net change in uncertain tax positions.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, our effective tax rate differs from the statutory federal rate of 35.0% due to net state and local taxes, tax credits, net changes in uncertain tax positions, audit and amended return refunds, state legislative changes, non-deductible expenses, and provision adjustments.

Net Income. Net income increased $152.5 million, or 73%, to $362.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $210.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The increase was primarily attributable to a 32% increase in income from operations as well as the gain on settlement, partially offset by a 54% increase in provision for income taxes.

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Performance Measures

In managing our business and assessing our financial performance, we supplement the information provided by financial statement measures with several customer-focused performance metrics that we believe are widely used in the wireless industry. These metrics include average revenue per user per month, or ARPU, which measures service revenue per customer; cost per gross customer addition, or CPGA, which measures the average cost of acquiring a new customer; cost per user per month, or CPU, which measures the non-selling cash cost of operating our business on a per customer basis; churn, which measures turnover in our customer base; and Adjusted EBITDA, which measures the financial performance of our operations. For a reconciliation of non-GAAP performance measures and a further discussion of the measures, please read “— Reconciliation of non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.

The following table shows metric information for the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 and 2011.

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
Customers:
End of period	8,979,960			9,149,249			8,979,960			9,149,249
Net additions (losses)	(312,291		)	69,384			(366,699		)	994,139
Churn:
Average monthly rate	3.7		%	4.5		%	3.4		%	3.9		%
ARPU	$	40.50		$	40.80		$	40.56		$	40.57
CPGA	$	202.24		$	193.95		$	211.98		$	175.30
CPU	$	18.38		$	19.52		$	19.90		$	19.41
Adjusted EBITDA (in thousands)	$	466,035		$	327,321		$	1,205,086		$	969,824

Customers. Net customer losses were 312,291 for the three months endedSeptember 30, 2012, compared to net customer additions of 69,384 for the three months endedSeptember 30, 2011. Net customer losses were 366,699 for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012, compared to net customer additions of 994,139 for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011. The decrease in customer additions, we believe, is primarily attributable to our focus on generating Adjusted EBITDA and cash flow versus customer growth during the quarter, competitive pressures, continued economic pressures and lack of economic recovery and customer expectations for high speed 4G data service. Total customers were 8,979,960 as of September 30, 2012, a decrease of 2% over the customer total of 9,149,249 as of September 30, 2011.

Churn. As we do not require a long-term service contract, we expect our churn percentage to be higher than traditional wireless carriers that require customers to sign a one- to two-year contract with significant early termination fees. Average monthly churn represents (a) the number of customers who have been disconnected from our system during the measurement period less the number of customers who have reactivated service, divided by (b) the sum of the average monthly number of customers during such period. We classify delinquent customers as churn after they have been delinquent for 30 days. In addition, when an existing customer establishes a new account in connection with the purchase of an upgraded or replacement phone and does not identify themselves as an existing customer, we count the phone leaving service as a churn and the new phone entering service as a gross customer addition (“false churn”). Churn for the three months endedSeptember 30, 2012 was 3.7%, compared to 4.5% for the three months endedSeptember 30, 2011. Churn for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 was 3.4%, compared to 3.9% for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011. The decrease in churn was primarily driven by continued investments in our network and lower year-to-date subscriber growth. Our customer activity is influenced by seasonal effects related to traditional retail selling periods and other factors that arise from our target customer base. Based on historical results, we generally expect net customer additions to be strongest in the first and fourth quarters. Softening of sales and increased churn in the second and third quarters of the year usually combine to result in fewer net customer additions or in net customer losses during these quarters. See – “Seasonality.”

Average Revenue Per User. ARPU represents (a) service revenues less pass through charges for the measurement period, divided by (b) the sum of the average monthly number of customers during such period. ARPU was $40.50 and $40.80 for three months endedSeptember 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, a decrease of $0.30. ARPU was $40.56 and $40.57 for nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, a decrease of $0.01. The decrease in ARPU for the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012, when compared to the same period in 2011, was primarily attributable to promotional service plans partially offset by continued demand for 4G LTE service plans.

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Cost Per Gross Addition. CPGA is determined by dividing (a) selling expenses plus the total cost of equipment associated with transactions with new customers less equipment revenues associated with transactions with new customers during the measurement period by (b) gross customer additions during such period. Retail customer service expenses and equipment margin on handsets sold to existing customers when they are identified, including handset upgrade transactions, are excluded, as these costs are incurred specifically for existing customers. CPGA costs increased to $202.24 for the three months endedSeptember 30, 2012 from $193.95 for the three months endedSeptember 30, 2011. The increase in CPGA for the three months endedSeptember 30, 2012, was primarily driven by a 47% decrease in gross additions as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2011. CPGA costs increased to $211.98 for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 from $175.30 for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011. The increase in CPGA for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 was primarily driven by a 39% decrease in gross additions as compared to the same period in 2011.

Cost Per User. CPU is determined by dividing (a) cost of service and general and administrative costs (excluding applicable stock-based compensation expense included in cost of service and general and administrative expense) plus net loss on handset equipment transactions unrelated to initial customer acquisition, divided by (b) the sum of the average monthly number of customers during such period. CPU for the three months endedSeptember 30, 2012 and 2011 was $18.38 and $19.52, respectively. CPU for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 and 2011 was $19.90 and $19.41, respectively. The decrease in CPU for the three months endedSeptember 30, 2012, when compared to the same period in 2011, was primarily driven by a decrease in retention expense for existing customers, a decrease in long distance cost and a decrease in taxes and regulatory fees. These items were partially offset by an increase in costs associated with our 4G LTE network upgrade and an increase in commissions paid to independent retailers for customer reactivations. During the three months ended September 30, 2012 we experienced $2.47 in CPU directly related to handset upgrades compared to $3.88 during the three months ended September 30, 2011. The increase in CPU for the nine months ended ended September 30, 2012, when compared to the same period in 2011, was primarily driven by an increase in retention expense for existing customers, costs associated with our 4G LTE network upgrade, an increase in commissions paid to independent retailers for customer reactivations and roaming expenses associated with Metro USA. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in long distance cost and taxes and regulatory fees. During the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 we experienced $4.23 in CPU directly related to handset upgrades compared to $4.06 during the same period in 2011.

Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as consolidated net income plus depreciation and amortization; gain (loss) on disposal of assets; stock-based compensation expense; gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt; provision for income taxes; interest expense; minus interest and other income and non-cash items increasing consolidated net income. Adjusted EBITDA for the three months endedSeptember 30, 2012 increased to $466.0 million from $327.3 million for the three months endedSeptember 30, 2011. Adjusted EBITDA for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 increased to approximately $1.2 billion from $969.8 million for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011.

Reconciliation of non-GAAP Financial Measures

We utilize certain financial measures and key performance indicators that are not calculated in accordance with GAAP to assess our financial and operating performance. A non-GAAP financial measure is defined as a numerical measure of a company’s financial performance that (i) excludes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of excluding amounts, that are included in the comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in the statement of income or statement of cash flows, or (ii) includes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of including amounts, that are excluded from the comparable measure so calculated and presented.

ARPU, CPGA, CPU and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures utilized by our management to judge our ability to meet our liquidity requirements and to evaluate our operating performance. We believe these measures are important in understanding the performance of our operations from period to period, and although every company in the wireless industry does not define each of these measures in precisely the same way, we believe that these measures (which are common in the wireless industry) facilitate key liquidity and operating performance comparisons with other companies in the wireless industry. The following tables reconcile our non-GAAP financial measures with our financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP.

ARPU — We utilize ARPU to evaluate our per-customer service revenue realization and to assist in forecasting our future service revenues. ARPU is calculated exclusive of pass through charges that we collect from our customers and remit to the appropriate government agencies.

Average number of customers for any measurement period is determined by dividing (a) the sum of the average monthly number of customers for the measurement period by (b) the number of months in such period. Average monthly number of customers for any month represents the sum of the number of customers on the first day of the month and the last day of the month divided by two. We believe investors use ARPU primarily as a tool to track changes in our average revenue per customer

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and to compare our per customer service revenues to those of other wireless broadband mobile providers, although other providers may calculate this measure differently. The following table reconciles total revenues used in the calculation of ARPU to service revenues, which we consider to be the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure to ARPU.

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
	(in thousands, except average number of customers and ARPU)
Calculation of Average Revenue Per User (ARPU):
Service revenues	$	1,121,957		$	1,131,054		$	3,439,678		$	3,294,563
Less: Pass through charges	(12,507		)	(19,785		)	(44,656		)	(61,795		)
Net service revenues	$	1,109,450		$	1,111,269		$	3,395,022		$	3,232,768
Divided by: Average number of customers	9,131,181			9,079,982			9,300,428			8,853,141
ARPU	$	40.50		$	40.80		$	40.56		$	40.57

CPGA — We utilize CPGA to assess the efficiency of our distribution strategy, validate the initial capital invested in our customers and determine the number of months to recover our customer acquisition costs. This measure also allows us to compare our average acquisition costs per new customer to those of other wireless broadband mobile providers, although other providers may calculate this measure differently. Equipment revenues related to new customers are deducted from selling expenses in this calculation as they represent amounts paid by customers at the time their service is activated that reduce our acquisition cost of those customers. Additionally, equipment costs associated with existing customers, net of related revenues, are excluded as this measure is intended to reflect only the acquisition costs related to new customers. We believe investors use CPGA primarily as a tool to track changes in our average cost of acquiring new customers and to compare our per customer acquisition costs to those of other wireless broadband mobile providers, although other providers may calculate this measure differently. The following table reconciles total costs used in the calculation of CPGA to selling expenses, which we consider to be the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure to CPGA.

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
	(in thousands, except gross customer additions and CPGA)
Calculation of Cost Per Gross Addition (CPGA):
Selling expenses	$	78,770		$	88,702		$	253,481		$	259,086
Less: Equipment revenues	(137,203		)	(74,334		)	(377,252		)	(314,654		)
Add: Equipment revenue not associated with new customers	96,911			58,026			275,561			192,615
Add: Cost of equipment	265,940			343,473			1,002,726			1,095,269
Less: Equipment costs not associated with new customers	(164,521		)	(163,610		)	(629,915		)	(515,743		)
Gross addition expenses	$	139,897		$	252,257		$	524,601		$	716,573
Divided by: Gross customer additions	691,736			1,300,611			2,474,721			4,087,582
CPGA	$	202.24		$	193.95		$	211.98		$	175.30

CPU — We utilize CPU as a tool to evaluate the non-selling cash expenses associated with ongoing business operations on a per customer basis, to track changes in these non-selling cash costs over time, and to help evaluate how changes in our business operations affect non-selling cash costs per customer. In addition, CPU provides management with a useful measure to compare our non-selling cash costs per customer with those of other wireless broadband mobile providers. We believe investors use CPU primarily as a tool to track changes in our non-selling cash costs over time and to compare our non-selling cash costs to those of other wireless broadband mobile providers, although other providers may calculate this measure differently. The following table reconciles total costs used in the calculation of CPU to cost of service, which we consider to be the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure to CPU.

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	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
	(in thousands, except average number of customers and CPU)
Calculation of Cost Per User (CPU):
Cost of service	$	373,032		$	382,033		$	1,130,377		$	1,089,480
Add: General and administrative expense	84,639			73,757			254,016			227,700
Add: Net loss on equipment transactions unrelated to initial customer acquisition	67,610			105,584			354,354			323,128
Less: Stock-based compensation expense included in cost of service and general and administrative expense	(9,256		)	(9,898		)	(28,756		)	(32,142		)
Less: Pass through charges	(12,507		)	(19,785		)	(44,656		)	(61,795		)
Total costs used in the calculation of CPU	$	503,518		$	531,691		$	1,665,335		$	1,546,371
Divided by: Average number of customers	9,131,181			9,079,982			9,300,428			8,853,141
CPU	$	18.38		$	19.52		$	19.90		$	19.41

Adjusted EBITDA — We utilize Adjusted EBITDA to monitor the financial performance of our operations. This measurement, together with GAAP measures such as revenue and income from operations, assists management in its decision-making process related to the operation of our business. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for income from operations, net income, or any other measure of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP. In addition, other providers may calculate this measure differently.

We believe that analysts and investors use Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental measure to evaluate our overall operating performance and that this metric facilitates comparisons with other wireless communications companies. We use Adjusted EBITDA internally as a metric to evaluate and compensate our personnel and management for their performance, and as a benchmark to evaluate our operating performance in comparison to our competitors. Management also uses Adjusted EBITDA to measure, from period-to-period, our ability to provide cash flows to meet future debt services, capital expenditures and working capital requirements and fund future growth. The following tables illustrate the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA and reconcile Adjusted EBITDA to net income and cash flows from operating activities, which we consider to be the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures to Adjusted EBITDA.

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
	(in thousands)
Calculation of Adjusted EBITDA:
Net income	$	192,667		$	69,326		$	362,507		$	210,040
Adjustments:
Depreciation and amortization	163,089			139,309			469,258			402,528
Loss on disposal of assets	1,452			1,283			4,618			2,731
Stock-based compensation expense	9,256			9,898			28,756			32,142
Interest expense	66,655			69,511			206,224			193,051
Interest income	(460		)	(531		)	(1,208		)	(1,557		)
Other (income) expense, net	(105		)	(93		)	(418		)	(534		)
Gain on settlement	(52,500		)	—			(52,500		)	—
Loss on extinguishment of debt	—			—			—			9,536
Provision for income taxes	85,981			38,618			187,849			121,887
Adjusted EBITDA	$	466,035		$	327,321		$	1,205,086		$	969,824

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	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
	(in thousands)
Reconciliation of Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities to Adjusted EBITDA:
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	391,898		$	271,560		$	848,468		$	753,660
Adjustments:
Interest expense	66,655			69,511			206,224			193,051
Non-cash interest expense	(1,899		)	(2,125		)	(5,563		)	(6,141		)
Interest income	(460		)	(531		)	(1,208		)	(1,557		)
Other (income) expense, net	(105		)	(93		)	(418		)	(534		)
Benefit (provision) for uncollectible accounts receivable	82			(121		)	(3,155		)	(382		)
Deferred rent expense	(4,058		)	(5,626		)	(13,432		)	(13,457		)
Cost of abandoned cell sites	(417		)	(270		)	(1,357		)	(650		)
Gain on sale and maturity of investments	89			122			154			441
Accretion of asset retirement obligations	(1,681		)	(1,436		)	(4,900		)	(4,198		)
Provision for income taxes	85,981			38,618			187,849			121,887
Deferred income taxes	(84,005		)	(37,895		)	(191,243		)	(119,290		)
Changes in working capital	13,955			(4,393		)	183,667			46,994
Adjusted EBITDA	$	466,035		$	327,321		$	1,205,086		$	969,824

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our principal sources of liquidity are our existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, and cash generated from operations. At September 30, 2012, we had a total of approximately $2.6 billion in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. We believe that, based on our current level of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, and our anticipated cash flows from operations, we have adequate liquidity, cash flow and financial flexibility to fund our operations in the near-term.

As of September 30, 2012, we owed an aggregate of approximately $4.5 billion under our Senior Secured Credit Facility, 7 ⁷/8% Senior Notes and 6 ⁵/8% Senior Notes, as well as $322.2 million under our capital lease obligations.

In March 2011, Wireless entered into the New Amendment which amended and restated the Senior Secured Credit Facility to, among other things, provide for the Tranche B-3 Term Loans, which will mature in March 2018 and have an interest rate of LIBOR plus 3.75%. The New Amendment also increased the interest rate on the existing Tranche B-1 Term Loans and Tranche B-2 Term Loans under the Senior Secured Credit Facility to LIBOR plus 3.821%. In addition, the aggregate amount of the revolving credit facility was increased from $67.5 million to $100.0 million and the maturity of the revolving credit facility was extended to March 2016. Net proceeds from the Tranche B-3 Term Loans were $490.2 million after underwriter fees, discounts and other debt issuance costs of approximately $9.8 million. The New Amendment modified certain limitations under the Senior Secured Credit Facility including limitations on our ability to incur additional debt, make certain restricted payments, sell assets, make certain investments or acquisitions, grant liens and pay dividends. In addition, Wireless is no longer subject to certain financial covenants, including maintaining a maximum senior secured consolidated leverage ratio. However, under certain circumstances, we could be subject to certain financial covenants that contain ratios based on consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as defined by the Senior Secured Credit Facility. Under the New Amendment, the definition of consolidated Adjusted EBITDA has changed and no longer excludes interest and other income.

In May 2011, Wireless entered into the Incremental Agreement which supplemented the Senior Secured Credit Facility to provide for the Incremental Tranche B-3 Term Loans which amount was borrowed on May 10, 2011. The Incremental Tranche B-3 Term Loans have an interest rate of LIBOR plus 3.75% and will mature in March 2018. The Incremental Tranche B-3 Term Loans are repayable in quarterly installments of $2.5 million. A portion of the proceeds from the Incremental Tranche B-3 Term Loans was used to prepay the $535.8 million in outstanding principal under the Tranche B-1 Term Loans, with the remaining proceeds to be used for general corporate purposes, including opportunistic spectrum acquisitions. The net proceeds from the Incremental Tranche B-3 Term Loans were $455.5 million after prepayment of the Tranche B-1 Term Loans, underwriter fees, other debt issuance costs of $7.9 million. The Incremental Agreement did not modify the interest rate, maturity date or any of the other terms of the Senior Secured Credit Facility applicable to the Tranche B-2 Term Loans or the

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existing Tranche B-3 Term Loans.

Our strategy has been to offer our services in major metropolitan areas and their surrounding areas, which we refer to as operating segments. We are seeking opportunities to enhance our current operating segments and to provide service in new geographic areas generally adjacent to existing coverage areas. From time to time, we may purchase spectrum and related assets from third parties or the FCC. We believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments and our anticipated cash flows from operations will be sufficient to fully fund planned capital investments including geographical expansion.

The construction of our network and the marketing and distribution of our wireless communications products and services have required, and will continue to require, substantial capital investment. Capital outlays have included license acquisition costs, capital expenditures for construction or increasing the capacity of or upgrading our network infrastructure, including network infrastructure for 4G LTE, costs associated with clearing and relocating non-governmental incumbent licenses, funding of operating cash flow losses incurred as we launch services in new metropolitan areas and other working capital costs, debt service and financing fees and expenses. Our capital expenditures for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 were $588.3 million and capital expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2011 were $889.8 million. The expenditures for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 were primarily associated with our efforts to increase the service area and capacity of our existing network and the continued upgrade of our network to 4G LTE. We believe the increased service area and capacity in existing markets will improve our service offerings, helping us to attract additional customers and retain existing customers resulting in increased revenues.

Gain on Settlement

In September 2012, we settled arbitration and litigation proceedings related to certain securities.  Pursuant to the terms of the confidential settlement agreement, we received $52.5 million in cash in exchange for the release of all current and future claims that we may have relating to the sale of such securities to us, and we retain the rights to sell our investment in such securities at a later date.

Operating Activities

Cash provided by operating activities increased $94.8 million to $848.5 million during the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 from $753.7 million for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011. The increase is primarily attributable to a 73% increase in net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011, partially offset by a $135.5 million increase in cash flows used for changes in working capital during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011.

Investing Activities

Cash used in investing activities increased $17.8 million to $717.8 million during the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 from $700.0 million during the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011. Cash flows from net purchases of short-term investments decreased $274.9 million, partially offset by a $215.9 million decrease in net cash outflows for purchases of property and equipment during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011, and $52.5 million in cash received for the settlement related to certain securities that occurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

Financing Activities

Cash used in financing activities was $16.7 million during the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 compared to cash provided by financing activities of $990.6 million during the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011. The decrease is primarily attributable to $946.4 million in net proceeds from debt issuance during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 that did not recur during the same period in 2012, as well as a $55.4 million decrease in proceeds from the exercise of stock options.

Capital Lease Obligations

We have entered into various non-cancelable capital lease agreements with expirations through 2027. Assets and future obligations related to capital leases are included in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets in property and equipment and long-term debt, respectively. Depreciation of assets held under capital lease obligations is included in depreciation and amortization expense. As of September 30, 2012, we had $322.2 million of capital lease obligations, with $10.7 million and $311.5 million recorded in current maturities of long-term debt and long-term debt, respectively.

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Capital Expenditures and Other Asset Acquisitions and Dispositions

Capital Expenditures. We currently expect to incur capital expenditures in the range of $900.0 million to $1.0 billion on a consolidated basis for the year ending December 31, 2012.

During the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012, we incurred $588.3 million in capital expenditures. During the year ended December 31, 2011, we incurred $889.8 million in capital expenditures. The capital expenditures for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and the year ended December 31, 2011 were primarily associated with our efforts to increase the service area capacity of our existing network and the continued upgrade of our network to 4G LTE.

Other Asset Acquisitions and Dispositions. In October 2010, we entered into an asset purchase agreement to acquire 10 MHz of AWS spectrum and certain related network assets adjacent to the Northeast metropolitan areas and surrounding areas for a total purchase price of $49.2 million. In November 2010, we closed on the acquisition of the network assets and paid a total of $41.1 million in cash. In February 2011, we closed on the acquisition of the 10 MHz of AWS spectrum and paid $8.0 million in cash. In June 2011, we completed a final settlement of costs and received $0.5 million in cash as reimbursement for pre-acquisition payments made on behalf of the seller.

During the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012, the Company closed on the acquisition of microwave spectrum in the net aggregate amount of $21.9 million in cash.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.

Inflation

We believe that inflation has not materially affected our operations.

Effect of New Accounting Standards

In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04, "Fair Value Measurement - Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs," addressing how to measure fair value and what disclosures to provide about fair value measurements. This amendment is largely consistent with the existing GAAP guidance, but aligned the international guidance and eliminated unnecessary wording differences between GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). The amendment was effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011, and should be applied prospectively. The implementation of this standard did not affect our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05 "Statement of Comprehensive Income," which revises the manner in which entities present comprehensive income in their financial statements, requiring entities to report components of comprehensive income in either (1) a continuous statement of comprehensive income or (2) two separate but consecutive statements. The amendment was effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2011 and should be applied retrospectively. The implementation of this standard did not affect our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

In July 2012, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2012-02, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment," allowing entities to make a qualitative evaluation about the likelihood of impairment of an indefinite-lived intangible asset to determine whether the quantitative test is required, as opposed to required annual quantitative impairment testing.  The amendment was effective for interim and annual impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012.  Early adoption is permitted. We did not elect to utilize a qualitative assessment and have performed the annual quantitative impairment test as of September 30, consistent with prior years.  The implementation of this standard did not affect our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

Fair Value Measurements

We do not expect changes in the aggregate fair value of our financial assets and liabilities to have a material adverse impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements. See Note 8 to the financial statements included in this report.

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Market risk is the potential loss arising from adverse changes in market prices and rates, including interest rates. We do not routinely enter into derivatives or other financial instruments for trading, speculative or hedging purposes, unless it is hedging our interest rate risk exposure or is required by our Senior Secured Credit Facility. We do not currently conduct business internationally, so we are generally not subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk.

As of September 30, 2012, we had approximately $2.5 billion in outstanding indebtedness under our Senior Secured Credit Facility that bears interest at floating rates based on LIBOR plus 3.821% for the Tranche B-2 Term Loans and LIBOR plus 3.75% for the Tranche B-3 Term Loans and Incremental Tranche B-3 Term Loans. The interest rate on the outstanding debt under our Senior Secured Credit Facility as of September 30, 2012 was 4.614%, which includes the impact of our interest rate protection agreements. In October 2010, we entered into three separate two-year interest rate protection agreements to manage the Company's interest rate risk exposure. These agreements were effective on February 1, 2012, cover a notional amount of $950.0 million and effectively converted this portion of our variable rate debt to fixed rate debt at a weighted average annual rate of 4.908%. These agreements expire on February 1, 2014.  In April 2011, we entered into three separate three-year interest rate protection agreements to manage the Company's interest rate risk exposure under our Senior Secured Credit Facility.  These agreements were effective on April 15, 2011, cover a notional amount of $450.0 million and effectively convert this portion of our variable rate debt to fixed rate debt at a weighted average annual rate of 5.242%.  These agreements expire on April 15, 2014.  If market LIBOR rates increase 100 basis points over the rates in effect at September 30, 2012, annual interest expense on the approximately $1.1 billion in variable rate debt that is not subject to interest rate protection agreements would increase $10.5 million.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported as required by the SEC and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including our CEO and CFO, as appropriate, to allow for appropriate and timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Our management, with participation by our CEO and CFO, has designed the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures to provide reasonable assurance of achieving these desired objectives. As required by SEC Rule 13a-15(b), we conducted an evaluation, with the participation of our CEO and CFO, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2012, the end of the period covered by this report. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures (as defined by SEC Rule 13a – 15(e)), our management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management is necessarily required to apply judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and objectives. Based upon that evaluation, our CEO and CFO have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of September 30, 2012.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2012 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

We are involved in litigation from time to time, including litigation regarding intellectual property claims, that we consider to be in the normal course of business. Legal proceedings are inherently unpredictable, and the legal proceedings in which we are involved often present complex legal and factual issues. We intend to vigorously defend against litigation in which we are involved and, where appropriate, engage in discussions to resolve these legal proceedings on terms favorable to us. We believe that any amounts which parties to such litigation allege we are liable for are not necessarily meaningful indicators of our potential liability or any relief, such as injunctive relief, which parties to such litigation seek are not necessarily meaningful indicators whether such relief will be granted. We determine whether we should accrue an estimated loss for a contingency in a particular legal proceeding by assessing whether a loss is probable and can be reasonably estimated. We reassess our views on estimated losses on a quarterly basis to reflect the impact of any developments in the legal proceedings in which we are involved. It is possible, however, that our business, financial condition, results of operations, and liquidity in future periods could be materially adversely affected by increased expenses, including legal and litigation expenses, significant settlement costs, relief granted or agreed to, and/or unfavorable damage awards relating to such legal proceedings. Other than the matters listed below we are not currently party to any pending legal proceedings that we believe could, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

MetroPCS, its Board of directors, and an officer, among others, (collectively, the "defendants") have been named as defendants in a series of putative shareholder class and/or derivative actions filed in Delaware and Texas (the “Merger Litigation”) relating to the entry into a Business Combination Agreement, dated October 3, 2012 (the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and between Deutsche Telekom AG, an Aktiengesellschaft organized in Germany (“Deutsche Telekom”), T-Mobile Global Zwischenholding GmbH, a Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung organized in Germany and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom (“Global”), T-Mobile Global Holding GmbH, a Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung organized in Germany and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Global (“Holding”), T-Mobile USA, Inc., a Delaware corporation and direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Holding (“T-Mobile”) and the Company wherein MetroPCS agreed to (1) engage in a recapitalization which entails a reverse stock split and cash payment to shareholders, (2) take Deutsche Telekom's interest in T-Mobile, and (3) issue stock to Deutsche Telekom (the “Transaction”). The Merger Litigation includes: (i) a putative class action lawsuit filed by Paul Benn, an alleged MetroPCS shareholder, on October 11, 2012 in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware, Civil Action No. 7938 (the “Benn Action”); (ii) a putative class action lawsuit filed by Joseph Marino, an alleged MetroPCS shareholder, on October 11, 2012 in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware, Civil Action No. 7940 (the “Marino Action”) (the Benn Action and Marino Actions together, the “Delaware Merger Actions”); (iii) a putative class action and shareholder derivative action filed by Adam Golovoy, an alleged MetroPCS shareholder, on October 10, 2012 in the County Court at Law No. 1, Dallas County, Texas, Civil Action No. CC-12-06144 (the “Golovoy Action”); and (iv) a putative class action and shareholder derivative action filed by Nagendra Polu and Fred Lorquet, who are alleged MetroPCS shareholders, on October 10, 2012 in the County Court at Law No. 5, Dallas County, Texas, Civil Action No. CC-12-06170 (the “Polu-Lorquet Action”) (the Golovoy Action and Polu-Lorquet Actions together, the “Texas Merger Actions”). The various plaintiffs in the Merger Litigation allege that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties by failing to obtain sufficient value for MetroPCS shareholders in the Transaction, to establish a process that adequately protected the interests of MetroPCS shareholders, and to adequately ensure that no conflicts of interest occurred. The plaintiffs in the Merger Litigation also allege that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties by agreeing to certain terms in the Business Combination Agreement that allegedly restricted the defendants' ability to obtain a more favorable offer, including the “no solicitation,” “superior proposal,” and termination fee provisions, and that those provisions, together with the Company's Rights Agreement and a Support Agreement between Deutsche Telekom and Madison Dearborn Partners, constitute breaches of the defendants' fiduciary duties. The plaintiffs in the Merger Litigation seek injunctive relief, unspecified compensatory and/or rescissory damages, unspecified punitive damages, attorney's fees, other expenses, and costs. All of the plaintiffs in the Merger Litigation seek a determination that their alleged claims may be asserted on a class-wide basis. In addition, the plaintiffs in the Texas Merger Actions also assert putative derivative claims, as shareholders on behalf of the Company, against the individually named defendants for breach of fiduciary duty, abuse of control, gross mismanagement, unjust enrichment and corporate waste in connection with the Transaction. Additional similar putative class and/or derivative suits may be filed. Due to the complex nature of the legal and factual issues involved in these actions, the outcome is not presently determinable. If the various actions in the Merger Litigation were to proceed beyond the pleading stage, MetroPCS could be required to incur substantial defense costs and expenses and/or be required to pay substantial damages or settlement costs, and could divert management's attention, all of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results. The Company intends to vigorously defend against the claims in the Merger Litigation.

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

In addition to the other information contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, you should consider the following risk factors in evaluating our business, financial condition and operating results or an investment in our common stock or in our indebtedness. Many of these risks, and the events which cause these risks, are beyond our control or our ability to predict.

Although we describe below and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report the risks we consider to be the most material to our business, financial condition and operating results or an investment in our common stock or our indebtedness, there may be other known, unknown or unpredictable economic, business, competitive, regulatory or other conditions, risks, events or factors that also could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and operating results in the future, or on an investment in our common stock or in our indebtedness. The probability or likelihood of a risk occurring or affecting our business, financial condition or operating results can change and change without notice and may vary over time or may be based on events or circumstances beyond our control. In addition, past performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results, performance or trends in future periods. Any information about our intentions, projections or forward looking statements in this Quarterly Report is a statement of our intentions, projections and forward looking statements as of the date of this report and is based upon, among other things, the regulatory, industry, competitive, economic and market conditions as of such date, as well as various of our assumptions at such time. We may change our intentions, projections or forward looking statements at any time and without notice, based upon any changes in such conditions, in our assumptions or otherwise.

If any of the events, conditions, factors or risks described below, individually or in combination, were to occur, our business, financial condition, operating results, cash flow, and an investment in our common stock or in our indebtedness, could be materially adversely affected.

Investors should also be aware that while we do communicate with securities analysts at various times, it is against our policy to disclose to them selectively any material non-public information or other confidential information. Accordingly, investors should not assume that we agree with any statement, financial report, prediction, or other report issued, provided or made by an analyst irrespective of the content of the statement, financial report, prediction or other report. To the extent that statements, predictions or reports issued by securities analysts contain any projections, forecasts or opinions, such statements, predictions or reports are those of the securities analysts making such projections, forecasts or opinions and we have no responsibility for such projections, forecasts or opinions and we do not adopt them or necessarily agree with them.

The risk factors described in this section have been separated into three groups for ease of review, including, (i) those risk associated with our business, (ii) those risks related to legal and regulatory matters, and (iii) those other general risks relating to our capitalization and financing, among other things. We urge you to read carefully and consider thoroughly all risk factors in evaluating our business, financial condition and operating results, and in making any investment decision regarding an investment in our common stock or indebtedness. You also should be aware that the risk factors disclosed in all our filings with the SEC and other information contained in our filings with the SEC may not describe every risk facing our Company or that may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, or that you should consider in investing or holding the securities of our Company.

Risks Related to the Transaction

The pendency of the Transaction presents certain risks and uncertainties to our business and operations prior to the closing of the Transaction, including, among other things, the following risks:

The Transaction is subject to the receipt of approvals from various governmental entities, which may impose conditions on, jeopardize or delay completion of, the transaction or reduce the anticipated benefits of the Transaction.

Approval of the Transaction will depend upon the receipt of certain governmental authorizations, consents, orders or other approvals from, governmental entities. There is no assurance that all of these required authorizations, consents, orders or other approvals will be obtained or that they will be obtained in a timely manner, or whether they will be subject to required actions, conditions, limitations, or restrictions on our or the combined company's business, assets, or product lines. If any such required actions, restrictions, limitations or conditions are imposed, it may jeopardize or delay completion of the Transaction, reduce the anticipated benefits of the Transaction or may allow the parties to terminate the Transaction, which could result in the incurrence of a break-up fee or in a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or operating results.

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Failure or a delay in completing the Transaction could negatively impact our stock price and our business and financial results.

If the Transaction is not completed or delayed, our common stock price and future business and financial results could be negatively affected, it may require us to pay a break-up fee under the Business Combination Agreement, or it could cause our employees, suppliers, vendors, distributors, retailers or dealers to lose focus on our business, cease doing business with us, or curtail their activities with us. Additionally, as a result of this Transaction, other competitors may target our customers with directed promotions and incentives. If this were to occur it could have a negative impact on our stock price and have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, operating results and stock price.

The pendency, and uncertainty of the effects, of the Transaction may cause disruption to our employee relations, business and operations, and a third party could seek to acquire us and break-up the Transaction, which may result in a significant diversion of management's attention away from our ongoing business operations which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

Uncertainty about the pendency and effects of the Transaction on our employees, customers, suppliers, vendors, distributors, dealers and retailers may have an adverse effect on our business and operations and may impair our ability to attract, retain and motivate key personnel until the Transaction is completed and for a period of time thereafter, as employees and prospective employees may experience uncertainty about their future roles with the combined company. Additionally, these uncertainties could cause customers, suppliers, vendors, distributors, dealers, retailers and others who deal with us to delay or defer decisions or these customers, suppliers, vendors, distributors, dealers, retailers and content and application providers may decide to not invest in or continue their relationship with the Company. Similarly, these same suppliers, vendors, distributors, dealers, content and application providers may decide to stop supporting or developing new product, services and applications, which we need to compete effectively. All of these circumstances could negatively impact our business and operations and have a material adverse affect on our business, financial condition and operating results. In addition, a third party could launch a bid to acquire us during the pendency of the Transaction and seek to break-up the Transaction with T-Mobile, which together with the pursuit of the completion of the Transaction and the preparations for the integration of the businesses may result in a significant diversion of management's attention away from our ongoing business operations which could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial conditions and operating results.

The price of MetroPCS' common stock may be affected by factors different than those which previously affected MetroPCS' common stock prior to the announcement of the Transaction.

Under the Business Combination Agreement, we are combining our business with T-Mobile. T-Mobile is a considerably larger company than us and has revenues, subscribers, EBITDA, net income and cash flow several times larger than ours. During the pendency of the Transaction our stock price may be affected by the financials and operating results of T-Mobile, over which we have no control. Our stock price may also be negatively affected by stock analysts', commenters' and other's views on the Transaction, the likelihood of the completion of the Transaction and any potential required actions, limitations, conditions or requirements that may be imposed by any government entities.

We are subject to contractual restrictions while the Transaction is pending that may adversely affect our business, financial conditions and operating results.

The Business Combination Agreement restricts us, without T-Mobile's consent, from taking certain actions outside of the ordinary course of business while the Transaction is pending. These restrictions may prevent us from pursuing otherwise attractive business opportunities and making other changes to our business prior to completion of the Transaction or termination of the Business Combination Agreement.

Following completion of the Transaction, the combined company will face a number of risks that currently face us, as well as additional risks.

These risks include, among other things:

• the effects of the Transaction on our dealers, vendors, suppliers, customers, our equity and debt holders and our employees, including our ability to retain our key employees and members of management;

• T-Mobile's and our ability to integrate successfully our and their business and realize the expected cost and capital expenditures savings and synergies and other benefits from the Transaction within the expected time frames;

• the intense competition from larger competitors that have greater resources than the combined company;

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• the difficulty migrating our customers to the T-Mobile network or retaining customers on our network, using the combined Company's services, customer care and billing platforms;

• the combined company's ability to manage the expanded and geographically dispersed business, operations and employee base of the combined company following the Transaction;

• the incurrence of substantial expenses related to the Transaction and integration, which are difficult to estimate; and

• the incurrence of substantial indebtedness in connection with the Transaction and the terms of that indebtedness.

Risks Related to Our Business

We face intense competition from other telecommunications providers and new entrants in the marketplace and such competition may intensify in the future.

We compete directly in each of our markets with a number of facilities-based and non-facilities-based communications service providers. Further, as the growth in the post-pay sector of the wireless industry continues to decrease, many of the largest nationwide competitors with significantly greater resources than we have and who have not traditionally focused on offering service on an unlimited, no long-term contract flat-rate basis are now focusing increasing attention on providing unlimited, no long-term contract flat-rate paid-in-advance services, either directly or indirectly through resellers or mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs, significantly increasing competition and causing downward price pressures with aggressive sales and marketing campaigns. All of our national wireless broadband mobile competitors and certain of our regional competitors and MVNOs currently are offering unlimited service plans on a flat rate basis on a no long-term contract flat-rate basis in the areas where we operate. The competitive pressures of the wireless telecommunications industry may continue to cause other carriers to offer unlimited service plans or service plans on a no long-term contract flat-rate basis with increasingly large bundles of minutes of use or unlimited use at increasingly lower prices on a national coverage basis. Since we primarily serve major metropolitan areas where the national wireless broadband mobile carriers and MVNOs are also offering services and we believe the overall post-paid sector is experiencing slowing growth, we anticipate increased competition for unlimited, no long-term contract, flat-rate paid-in-advance services. This intense competition could cause reduced revenues, increased costs, lower profitability, and other adverse financial or operational consequences which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

Our prices may decline over time.

Market prices for wireless broadband mobile services in general, and for flat-rate, no long-term contract, unlimited use of paid-in-advance services in particular, have declined over time and we anticipate prices will continue to decline with increased competition, including competition from carriers and MVNOs. Moreover, certain carriers we compete against, or may compete against in the future, offer additional services, such as wireline phone service, cable or satellite television, media and Internet, have broader geographic service areas, and are capable of bundling their wireless services with these other services in a package of services that we may not be able to duplicate at competitive prices. In response to all of the competitive offerings in the marketplace and falling market prices, in the future we may be required to add additional select features to our existing service plans, change our service plans, change the geographic areas included in our roaming, long-distance and other products and services, reduce our prices, or sell additional handsets, applications or content. We also evaluate our products, service offerings and the demands of our target customers regularly to be responsive to the competitive offerings, and may, as a result, amend, change, discontinue or adjust our products and service offerings, initiate or offer new permanent, trial or promotional product or service offerings or targeted promotional activities, reduced pricing, add additional features, subsidize the cost of handsets, or increase commission payments to our indirect dealers and increase our marketing and distribution costs. We cannot control the pricing decisions of our competitors and many of our competitors may continue to reduce their prices or offer promotions aimed at our potential customers, which, combined with discounts afforded such competitors and their ability to bundle features and services, may result in lower prices, slower growth, higher costs and increased churn of our customer base. Further, any new or changed product and service offerings may not meet customer demands or may not succeed in the long term, or may not be as profitable as our current offerings. These new or changed product and service plan offerings may result in reduced revenues, increased expenses, lower profitability, and other adverse financial or operational consequences, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

Many of our competitors have significantly greater financial and other resources than us.

Many of our current and prospective competitors are, or are affiliated with, major companies that have larger and more robust networks and support systems and substantially greater financial, technical, personnel, marketing and lobbying resources and bargaining power than we have. Some have greater access to capital, cash reserves, and spectrum holdings; longer-established brands with better name recognition; larger geographic coverage areas, roaming territories, and third-party distribution networks; better in-building coverage; unique intellectual property; exclusive distributorship arrangements for certain popular

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brands of handsets, applications and content; a larger market share; and more advanced technology than we have, all of which may affect our ability to compete successfully. Our lack of access to these resources may inhibit our ability to respond to our competition.

Many of our competitors also have established relationships with a larger base of current and potential customers and, due to their size and bargaining power, may obtain discounts or may have exclusive access to desired handsets, content, features, and services that our customers or prospective customers may want, expect or demand. Many of our competitors with greater access to capital and production and distribution resources also have entered into or may enter into exclusive deals with vendors and suppliers, including handset vendors, wireless application developers, content providers and service providers, or may cause such vendors to only develop products or services usable on their spectrum. For example, we currently do not have access to sell certain popular brands of handsets, such as the iPhone, which several of our largest competitors sell. As handset, application, and content selection and pricing are increasingly important to customers, the lack of availability to us of some of the latest and most popular handsets, applications, and content, whether as a result of exclusive dealings, volume discounting, or otherwise, could put us at a significant competitive disadvantage and could make it more difficult for us to attract and retain our customers, especially as our competitors continue to aggressively offer handset promotions with increased features, content, functionality and applications. Similarly, we believe we pay more, on average, than other national wireless broadband mobile carriers for our handsets and, if this trend continues and new technologies force us to offer new handsets, including those with increased costs due to increased features and functionality, we could be forced to further subsidize the price of our handsets and pay higher sales commissions on the sale or upgrade of handsets, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results. Our competitors have licensed spectrum which is not always in the same bands as our spectrum and the extent to which future handsets will be compatible across all bands of spectrum is uncertain. Accordingly, in the future, we may not achieve the same economies of scale with respect to handsets as we enjoy today. These advantages may allow our competitors to offer products and services (such as, handsets, devices, handset subsidies, higher commissions to distributors and dealers, broader geographic coverage, more facilities or services, and greater bundled features, applications and content) that we do not and cannot offer, offer lower prices, market to broader customer segments, and offer service over larger geographic areas. Our failure to respond timely to competition could reduce growth, revenue, market share and net income, and could increase our costs and customer churn. All of these risks, if realized, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and operating results.

Our competitors may take government subsidies which may give them a competitive advantage.

Some of our competitors have taken advantage of, or may in the future take advantage of, governmental loan, grant or credit programs, or universal service fund payments, which may allow them to offer products and services for lower prices, with lower costs, increase their revenue and growth while reducing churn, or allow them to provide service without charging customers in areas that may be uneconomical for us to serve without taking advantage of such programs. We have chosen not to participate in such programs at the current time. If we continue not to, or are unable to, participate in such governmental programs and our competitors participate in such programs, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and operating results.

We may not be able to respond quickly or effectively or at all to new marketing and sales initiatives launched by our competitors.

Many of our competitors have far greater sales and marketing resources with far larger sales and marketing budgets than we do. We generally have had, and anticipate in the future having, less sales and marketing resources and less brand recognition than our competitors, and we have spent, and anticipate spending, less on sales and marketing than our competitors. We do not know and cannot anticipate what sales and marketing initiatives our competitors may launch or the magnitude of their efforts, including offering exclusive devices, services, features, or content, or offering discounted or free products or services and reimbursement of cancellation fees. We generally do not have the resources to respond, or we may be unable or unwilling to spend the amounts necessary to effectively respond, to all sales and marketing initiatives of our competitors and consequently our efforts may be ineffective, inadequate, or may be delayed as a result of internal billing, customer care or other operational systems, which may allow our competitors to gain competitive share and negatively affect on our brand and sales and marketing efforts. We also may not have time to conduct extensive customer focus groups or sales trials before launching our sales and marketing initiatives companywide. As a result, our sales and marketing initiatives may not adequately respond to our competitors' sales and marketing initiatives or may not meet customer expectations or demands. Additionally, our marketing, sales, advertising or promotional initiatives can result in significant expenses and in the end the initiatives may not result in the acquisition of new customers or the retention of customers. Further, our business model is premised on achieving and maintaining a low cost structure, of which one component is centralizing certain sales and marketing activities and designing and implementing major sales and marketing efforts across all of the metropolitan areas we serve. Such centralization of our marketing efforts may allow our competitors to offer local or regional marketing initiatives and promotions to which we do not

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or cannot effectively respond. If we are unable to respond quickly, effectively, or at all, to new marketing and sales initiatives launched by our competitors, we could experience lower sales, lower revenues, increased costs, increased churn, and decreased profitability, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and operating results.

Our inability to increase, maintain or strengthen our brands and brand awareness may reduce our ability to attract and retain customers, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

We historically have spent less on advertising than our competitors. Many of our competitors have better developed and longer established brands with better name and brand awareness and recognition. With increased competition in the wireless telecommunications industry, in particular for unlimited, paid-in-advance services for a flat rate, we believe brand, brand awareness, advertising, marketing and promotional activities are, and will remain, critical to the success of the business. Developing, promoting and maintaining our brand and brand awareness require consistent capital investment and expense and there can be no assurance that our investment in such or the promotion of our brand and brand awareness will be successful. If we fail to develop, promote and maintain a strong brand and image, or our efforts to promote our brands and increase our brand awareness are unsuccessful, it could reduce our ability to attract and retain customers which could lead to greater churn, lower growth, reduced revenues, and lower profitability, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

We may face additional competition from existing or new entrants as a result of future governmental allocations or reallocations of spectrum, future FCC auctions of spectrum, private sales, and/or through legislative change or actions by the FCC allowing the development of new products and services by existing competitors and allowing other nontelecommunications businesses to enter the industry.

The FCC in the past has taken, and may in the future take, steps to make additional spectrum available for terrestrial mobile wireless services. Any auction and licensing of new spectrum, sale of existing spectrum or relaxation of requirements on or flexibility with respect to existing spectrum licenses, may result in new competitors and/or allow existing competitors to acquire additional, or make use of existing, spectrum, which could allow them to offer services competitive with our services or offer services that we may not be able to offer, or offer on a competitive basis, with the licenses we hold. For example, in March 2010, the FCC released its National Broadband Plan which recommends that the FCC make available 500 MHz of spectrum for broadband wireless services within the next ten years of which 300 MHz is recommended to be made newly available for mobile use within five years. Of this 300 MHz of spectrum, 70 MHz is recommended to be made available through the auction of allocated, but unassigned spectrum. In addition, 110 MHz is recommended to become available through the revision of existing technical and service rules for wireless communication services, or WCS, and mobile satellite services. Further, 120 MHz of spectrum may become available from digital television broadcasters through an incentive auction. The FCC recently has adopted changes to the existing technical and services rules for WCS, which may make it more usable to provide services competitive with our services. The FCC also recently adopted a co-primary terrestrial allocation for 40 MHz of mobile satellite services and granted such licensees additional flexibility to lease spectrum under spectrum manager lease arrangements. This 40 MHz of spectrum has been purchased out of bankruptcy by a major satellite services provider and the transfer of this spectrum has been approved. The FCC also has initiated a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking requesting comment on whether the licensee of this spectrum can offer terrestrial only service. If such additional flexibility is granted, this satellite provider will have the ability to offer terrestrial mobile broadband wireless services that may compete with the services we offer. In addition, Congress recently passed legislation providing the FCC with authority to conduct incentive auctions, including an incentive auction of DTV spectrum, and which requires the FCC to auction and license up to 65 MHz of spectrum, including AWS-3 and up to 15 MHz of AWS-2, by early 2015 and the FCC has initiated a rulemaking to implement such incentive auction authority. In addition, some companies in non-telecommunications businesses, including cable, energy and utility companies, also are expanding their services to offer communications and broadband services. Moreover, some companies in non-regulated portions of the telecommunications business, such as Internet search engine companies, are offering products and services that compete with our more highly regulated services. Some of these companies are offering these services using unlicensed spectrum. We cannot control most of these factors and the continuing consolidation and resulting economies of scale and access to greater resources by our competitors and additional competition could result in slower growth, reduced revenues, increased churn and lower profitability, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

FCC build-out requirements may cause competitors to build-out spectrum sooner and could cause additional competition sooner.

The FCC has taken actions, and may take further actions, to impose construction requirements on broadband mobile wireless licensees. For example, the revision of the WCS requirements has been, and mobile satellite service rules may be, coupled with more stringent build out requirements than these licensees previously had or that our spectrum had in the past. Recently, one of

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the largest holders of WCS licenses reached an agreement with the satellite radio service providers that may allow increased use of WCS spectrum for broadband mobile services. Also, the FCC has taken, and in the future may take, regulatory actions designed to provide greater capacity and flexibility to other licensees, including our competitors, and could allow companies that are not currently our competitors to offer competing products and services. And, as it did in approving a transaction involving satellite service provider SkyTerra (now known as LightSquared), the Commission may condition its approval of a license transfer or additional flexibility by requiring the acquirer or licensee to meet new stringent build out or construction requirements and other conditions. Stringent construction requirements could be detrimental to us by fostering increased competition or increased competition at an earlier date. If the FCC imposes more stringent build-out requirements, it could lead to increased competition which could reduce our revenue, increase our churn, and reduce our profitability which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

The continuing consolidation in the wireless industry through mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures also is creating increased competition and marketing initiatives.

Joint ventures, mergers and strategic alliances in the wireless industry have resulted in, and if the trend continues, will continue to foster, larger competitors competing for a limited number of customers. Currently, two of the largest national wireless broadband mobile carriers serve in excess of 60% of all wireless customers in the industry and may have dominant market power. The two largest national wireless broadband mobile carriers currently also earn a significant portion of all earnings related to wireless services, and hold commanding spectrum and other resource positions, which give them the ability to dominate the wireless market through exclusive handset arrangements and otherwise. In addition, the refusal of these dominant carriers to provide critical inputs, such as roaming services, on reasonable terms to others, including us, gives them even more dominant market power for wireless broadband mobile services. In addition, one of the largest national wireless broadband mobile carriers recently closed on the acquisition of an additional 20 MHz of AWS spectrum in most metropolitan areas in the United States. With the increased competition, industry consolidation, and with the effect of the aggregate penetration of wireless services in all metropolitan areas, which has made it more difficult to attract and retain customers, our operating results could be adversely affected by such larger competitors with greater resources and means to compete and our ability to grow may be hindered which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

We may be unable to successfully develop and profitably incorporate wireless data services into our service offerings in the future.

Wireless broadband mobile data services are increasingly becoming a meaningful component of many wireless broadband mobile carriers' strategies and financial results, including ours. Considerable demand exists for high-speed data services. The largest national wireless broadband mobile carriers have invested (and we expect will continue to invest) significant resources to develop and deliver these new data services to their customers and to use the ability to provide such services to differentiate their services and to compete against others. Currently, we offer wireless data services that are not in certain metropolitan areas as robust as those offered by some of our competitors, and may never be, and we do not offer certain wireless data services offered by our competitors, such as services for tablets and laptop computers. As market prices for wireless voice services continue to decline, if we are unable to offer such new data services or offer such services on competitive terms, we may not have sufficient revenue to offset the decline in wireless voice revenues. Similarly, as customers increasingly demand wireless broadband mobile data services as part of the core feature set of their wireless services, the failure to offer such services or offer them on a competitive basis with our competitors could reduce sales, slow growth, reduce revenues, and increase churn. If such events occur, it could have a material adverse effect in our business, financial condition and operating results.

While we anticipate that our 4G LTE network will have sufficient capacity to meet our anticipated needs of our customers for the services we currently offer or intend to offer to our customers in the near term, we have limited experience with our customers' demands for high-speed data services, as well as the number of customers for such services or the effect of any new services that we may plan to launch in the future on our networks. Industry trends, as well as our own experience, suggest that demand for data services and the amount of data consumed by a subscriber will continue to grow. In addition, unless we secure additional spectrum, we may not offer certain wireless data services our customers may desire and demand or we may be unable to do so because of technical, cost or other issues. In order for our 4G LTE deployment to be successful, we will need to continue to effectively increase the capacity of our data networks and to design and implement new data sales and marketing initiatives, including new services to support our deployment of 4G LTE. In addition, we have not, and may not, gain access to certain of the handsets, operating systems, applications or proprietary data content available to our competitors, or have 4G LTE roaming on terms that allow us to continue to offer unlimited services. If we are unable in the future to successfully incorporate the most advanced wireless data services, including certain 4G LTE technologies, into our service offerings or gain access to popular handsets, applications and content, or 4G LTE roaming on prices that allow us to offer it on an unlimited basis, our customer additions and ARPU could decrease and our churn could increase. Third party studies suggest that, while the volume of mobile data users will increase exponentially in the future, the profitability of such services may decline or

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evaporate and, as a result, we may be unable to maintain or improve our ARPU or our margins. Further, competitors have launched data plans, such as multi-device data plans, which may cause our potential customers to not subscribe to our services or cause our existing customers to churn. We also could experience higher than anticipated usage of our services that could result in not meeting customer expectations in connection with the performance of our services. As a result, we may be required to spend additional capital to increase the capacity of our networks or purchase additional spectrum. Since we have limited spectrum in some of our metropolitan areas, we may be unable to meet customer demand for service, which may lead to us having to limit service in those metropolitan areas, limit the handsets sold or limit usage or applications usable by customers, adopt tiered pricing service plans or lower our prices, forego unlimited plans, raise prices for data plans, or engage in network management technologies and practices our customers may not want or like. If we are unable to meet the customer demand for our data services, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

Additionally, certain of our content contracts currently have, and future content contracts may have, minimum purchase commitments to purchase content exclusively from a single provider, or other obligations or limitations. If we fail to accurately predict the type and amount of content our customers will demand or prefer, it could result in excess costs and expenses we cannot recover from our customers or in our inability to offer our customers the content they desire or demand, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

We do not develop or manufacture any products and are dependent on third parties for the development of products, content, applications and services, including access to most data, music and video content, applications, and access to new handsets to deliver these advanced services. As a distributor and not a manufacturer of products, content and applications, we do not control the availability, retail price, design, function, quality, reliability, customer service or branding of these products, content, applications and services, nor do we directly control all of the marketing and promotion of these products and services. The decisions of these third parties could negatively impact our ability to market and sell our products and services, our business plans, goodwill, and reputation. Further, if we are unable to obtain access to such services, content, or applications, incorporate such services, content, or applications into our service offerings, or purchase handsets, applications, content or services from third parties at a reasonable cost and on a timely basis in the future, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results. If we do not offer the products, services or content that our customers want or demand, it could result in slower growth, increased churn, or reduced revenue, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

The increasing adoption of smartphones with Android operating system may limit our ability to differentiate our services by features, functions, content or applications.

Historically, one of the ways we have differentiated our services is to offer features, functions, content or applications as part of a bundled service. We are offering an increasing number of smartphones with the Android operating system which includes a number of the features or functions that we previously bundled with our service. Further, the Android operating systems allows customers to download and use applications which substitute for features, functions or services we used to bundle with our services. Finally, with the rise of html browsers and the ready access to content on the Internet, our ability to differentiate our services based on the content that we may make available to our subscribers may be diminishing. If we are unable to differentiate our services using features, functions, content or applications bundled with our service, we may have difficulty competing with competitors which may have services that have broader geographic coverage, faster speeds, or other aspects our customers want, expect, demand, or desire. If we are unable to differentiate our services, we may have increased churn, reduced gross additions, lower revenues, and reduced profitability, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or operating results.

We may have difficulty meeting the demands placed on our network by data products.

We are increasingly selling, and may in the future sell even larger numbers of, handsets, devices (such as devices using the Android operating system), services and content that place a higher demand on our existing networks than handsets, devices, services and content we have historically sold. Industry trends, as well as our own experience, suggest that the demand for data services and the amount of data that will be consumed by a subscriber will continue to grow. We may not be able to satisfy the demands that these handsets, devices, services and content place on our network, we may not be able to profitably provide the data services used by these devices, and these devices, services and content may cause network congestion, network management and that limit our ability to meet the demands and expectation of our customers. We predominately offer data services using 1xRTT CDMA while most of our competitors use EVDO or other technologies which offer higher data speeds. In addition, because of our limited bandwidths for 4G LTE, our 4G LTE data speeds will not be as fast as those competitors who as using wider channels to offer 4G LTE or other high speed services. As a result, customers may not find our data services as attractive as those of our competitors. If we are unable to satisfy the demands of these new devices, services and content on our existing networks, we may be unable to offer these services profitably, these devices, services and content may cause

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network congestion and issues with respect to our existing customers, or we may have to raise prices or forego our unlimited service model, such that we may lose customers and may have difficulty attracting new customers. In addition, in order to meet the capacity demands of these new devices, services and content for data usage, we may be required to spend significant capital to build additional network capacity, lease additional sites, build additional DAS systems, purchase additional spectrum, redeploy spectrum from 4G LTE to CDMA or EVDO, refarm our CDMA spectrum to 4G LTE, or undertake other expenses or actions which could increase our costs. We also may be required to invest in technologies which have a shorter depreciable life which could increase our depreciation or result in write-offs. These demands also may require us to engage in network management technologies and practices which customers may find undesirable. All of the above could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

Our operations require continued capital expenditures and a failure to make such capital expenditures could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

Our business strategy involves competing in major metropolitan areas, all of which have significant established competition from other providers. To compete effectively, we must continue to upgrade, enhance our networks and services, expand our geographic coverage, and increase capacity. If we fail to do so, or our customers or potential customers develop a perception that our services are not on par with our competitors, it could reduce our growth or increase our churn. As a result, we have invested, and expect to continue to invest, a significant amount of capital in the future to construct, maintain, expand, increase capacity, upgrade and operate our networks, billing, customer care and information systems, to implement our business plans, including our 4G LTE network, and support future growth of our wireless business. We cannot give any assurance that we can, will or will be able to make such future capital expenditures, or that our future capital expenditures will generate a positive return, or that we will have adequate capital available to finance future expansions, upgrades and enhancements to our networks. Further, our funding needs may increase if we pursue other opportunities such as spectrum acquisitions, acquisitions of assets or other strategic transactions, expansion into new or further geographic expansion, or upgrading our networks to new technology. There can be no assurance that sufficient funds will be available to us under our existing indebtedness or otherwise. Further, should we need to raise additional capital, the foreign ownership restrictions mandated by the FCC, and applicable to us, could limit our ability to attract additional equity financing outside the United States. If we were able to obtain funds, it may not be on terms and conditions acceptable to us, which could limit or preclude our ability to pursue new opportunities, expand our service, upgrade our networks, engage in acquisitions, or purchase additional spectrum, thus limiting our ability to expand our business which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

Historically, we have been able to finance our needs and service our debt from cash internally generated from our operations and various debt and equity offerings. Our success and viability therefore now, and may in the future, depend on our ability to maintain and increase revenues and to raise additional capital, when and if needed, on reasonable terms. We may not have the cash or be able to arrange additional financing, whether debt, equity or otherwise, to fund our future needs on terms acceptable to us or at all. In addition, if a change of control event occurs such as the one contemplated with T-Mobile under the Business Combination Agreement, we may be required to repurchase or repay a significant portion of our outstanding debt. We cannot assure you that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations, or that future borrowings, including borrowings under our senior secured credit facility, will be available to us in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay our indebtedness or to fund our working capital and other liquidity needs, or at all. Further, as our operations grow, it may be more difficult to adapt and modify our business plan based on the availability of funding.

If our current cash and excess internally generated cash flows are insufficient for our current and future needs or to service our debt, we may be forced to sell additional equity, seek additional debt financing, borrow additional amounts under our existing senior secured credit facility or other credit facilities, refinance our existing indebtedness in the capital markets, sell markets, spectrum or our business, curb or moderate our growth, raise our prices, or delay certain of our planned expansion or other initiatives, additions of capacity, and technological advances. However, our senior secured credit facility and indentures and supplemental indentures governing our senior notes limit our ability to incur additional indebtedness. While our senior secured credit facility includes a presently undrawn revolving line of credit that is to be funded by a number of commercial and investment banks, worldwide economic conditions, a banking crisis, or tightening capital markets may affect whether our lenders honor or are able to honor their commitments to fund our revolving line of credit should we need to draw on such line of credit. Our ability to arrange additional financing will depend on, among other factors, our credit ratings, the prospects for our business, our leverage, financial and operating performance, general economic, financial, legislative and regulatory conditions, competitive practices, consumer credit conditions, consumer confidence, unemployment rates and prevailing capital market conditions. Many of these factors are beyond our control. If we incur significant additional indebtedness, or if we do not continue to generate sufficient cash from our operations, our credit ratings could be adversely affected, which would likely increase our future borrowing costs and affect our ability to access additional capital.

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Failure to obtain suitable financing when needed could, among other things, result in our inability to continue to expand our businesses as planned or to meet competitive challenges; reduced growth; foregone strategic opportunities; delays and/or reduced network deployments, upgrades, capital expenditures, operations, spectrum acquisitions and investments; and restructuring or refinancing our indebtedness prior to maturity or selling additional equity or seeking additional debt financing, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results, and on an investment in our common stock or in our indebtedness.

We may be unable to acquire additional spectrum in the future at a reasonable cost or at all.

Because we primarily offer predominately unlimited calling and data services for a flat rate, our customers tend, on average, to use our services more than the customers of other wireless broadband mobile carriers. We believe, based on industry trends and our own experience, that the average data usage of our customers may continue to rise. We anticipate we will need to acquire additional spectrum in order to continue our customer growth, maintain our quality of service, meet increasing customer demands and data usage, or to allow the deployment of new technologies. There is no assurance that additional spectrum will be made available by Congress or the FCC, through auction or otherwise, or through private market transactions, on a timely basis, on terms and conditions or under service rules that we consider to be suitable for our commercial uses, or be compatible with existing spectrum, or that we will be able to acquire additional spectrum from the FCC or from third parties at a reasonable cost or at all. Furthermore, the continued aggregation of spectrum by the largest nationwide carriers who, in the past, generally have been disinclined to divest spectrum in secondary market transactions, may reduce our ability to acquire spectrum from other carriers. In addition, the FCC may impose conditions on the use of new wireless broadband mobile spectrum, such as heightened build-out requirements, limited renewal rights, clearing obligations, or open access requirements that may make it less attractive to, or less economical for, us to acquire such spectrum. The FCC has recently initiated a notice of proposed rulemaking to examine whether the current spectrum screen used in acquisitions of spectrum should be changed or whether a spectrum cap should be imposed. Further, the FCC may refuse to approve an acquisition and transfer of spectrum licenses from others or our investments in other license holders. Finally, Congress recently enacted legislation that prohibits the FCC from limiting participation in auctions unless it does so through a general rulemaking. This provision may circumscribe the FCC's ability to limit eligibility on an auction by auction basis. If the FCC does not adopt a rulemaking limiting eligibility for the auction of new spectrum, we may have difficulty acquiring such spectrum for prices we can afford, or at all. If additional spectrum is unavailable on reasonable terms and conditions when needed, unavailable at a reasonable cost, or unavailable without conditions that impose significant costs or restrictions on us, we may not be able to continue to increase our customer base, meet the requirements of our customers' usage of our services or to offer new services and as a result we could lose customers or revenues, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and operating results.

Further, if we participate in a future FCC auction for additional spectrum or other governmental benefits, the FCC anti-collusion rules place certain restrictions on business communications and disclosures by participants in an FCC auction. These anti-collusion rules may restrict the normal conduct of our business and/or disclosures relating to an FCC auction, which historically have lasted between three to six months or more. These restrictions could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

If we undertake mergers, acquisitions or strategic transactions, including a combination with T-Mobile, that could result in operating difficulties, dilution and distraction from our business.

We have announced that we have entered into a Business Combination Agreement with T-Mobile, and if such should not be completed, we may in the future determine to expand our business, the markets in which we operate or the services that we provided, through the acquisition of selected spectrum or operating markets from other communication service providers, the acquisition of additional spectrum from any FCC auctions or auctions in other countries or from third parties, the acquisition of other communication service providers or through business combinations or other strategic transactions. Any such transactions, including the one with T-Mobile, can entail risk, may not be consummated, may require a disproportionate amount of our management and financial resources, may require us to sell additional equity or debt, may divert management's attention, and may create various operating difficulties and expenditures, among which may include:

• uncertain revenues and expenses, including difficulty in achieving projected synergies, with the result that we may not realize the growth in revenues, anticipated cost structure, profitability, or return on investment that we expect;

• difficulty integrating the acquired business, technologies, services, spectrum, products, operations and personnel of the acquired businesses;

• difficulty maintaining uniform standards, controls, policies and procedures;

• difficulty converting customers to or retaining customers with our network, services, customer care and billing platforms;

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• disruption of ongoing business;

• impact on our cash and available credit lines for use in financing future growth and working capital needs;

• triggering the change in control provision in our senior secured credit facility, the indentures and supplemental indentures governing our senior notes, and the change in control agreements of our officers, and acceleration of vesting equity and other incentive awards under our equity incentive plans;

• obligations imposed on us by counterparties in such transactions that limit our ability to obtain additional financing, our ability to compete in geographic areas or specific lines of business, or other aspects of our operational flexibility;

• increasing cost and complexity of assuring the implementation and maintenance of adequate internal control and disclosure controls and procedures, and of obtaining the reports and attestations required under the Exchange Act;

• loss of or inability to attract and retain key personnel;

• delayed implementation of services, products and technology pending any regulatory approval of such transaction;

• impairment of relationships with employees, customers, suppliers, distribution channels or vendors;

• difficulties in consolidating and preparing our financial statements due to poor accounting records, weak financial controls and, in some cases, procedures at acquired entities not based on U.S. GAAP or in compliance with financial or disclosure controls required under Sarbanes-Oxley;

• changes to our business, our distribution strategies, our business model or our service plans;

• inability to predict or anticipate market developments and capital commitments relating to the transaction; and

• with respect to any spectrum acquisition in a foreign country, difficulties and expenditures associated with operating in a foreign jurisdiction.

The synergies and anticipated benefits to us of any strategic transaction, acquisition or merger may never materialize or may materialize more slowly than anticipated. Future investments, acquisitions, dispositions, business combinations, or similar arrangements could result in dilutive issuances of our equity securities, the reduction in our cash reserves, the incurrence of additional debt, contingent liabilities or amortization expenses, write-offs of goodwill, complications in our business, and changes to our existing business or business model, triggering of change in control provisions in our senior secured credit facility, and in the indenture, and the supplemental indentures governing our senior notes and in the change in control agreements of our officers, any of which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

Additionally, our expected growth and any acquisitions or business combinations will also require stringent control of costs, the incurrence of costs associated with negotiating and finalizing transactions, costs associated with integration planning and the achievement of projected synergies, diligent management of our network infrastructure and our growth, integration planning, increased capital requirements, increased costs associated with marketing activities, the attraction and retention of qualified management, technical and sales personnel, the training and management of new personnel, and the design and implementation of financial, disclosure and management controls. Our growth will, and any acquisitions or business combinations may, challenge the capacity and abilities of existing employees and future employees at all levels of our business, our networks, and the controls and systems we have implemented. Failure to successfully manage our growth and any acquisitions or business combinations and to consummate such acquisition or business combination could increase our costs and adversely affect our level of service, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

Our business strategy may not succeed in the long term.

Our business strategy historically has been to offer predominately unlimited wireless broadband mobile services predominately on a paid-in-advance basis for flat monthly rates without requiring a long-term service contract or a credit check. While we anticipate we will continue our strategy for the future, our service plans may not continue to meet our customers' or potential customers' needs, expectations or demands, competitive offers could prove to be unprofitable in the long term, we may be unable to continue to offer unlimited services profitability, or our service plans could prove to be unsuccessful in the long term. A number of other wireless broadband mobile carriers, resellers and MVNOs are offering, and in the future may offer, services plans similar to, or competitive with, our service plans with more extensive geographic coverage than ours, better brand awareness, lower prices, more features, greater speeds, more handset or device selection, greater or different distribution channels, and other differentiating features. Certain of our competitors have begun offering data plans which could limit our growth in family plans and could increase churn. If our business strategy is unsuccessful, we may be forced to alter our product and service offerings, distribution strategies, operating methods and processes, cost structure, business model, pricing plans, and geographic focus, which could lead to lower revenues, higher expenses, lower profitability, higher churn, and other adverse financial or operational consequences, all of which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

We plan for a certain amount of and type of usage from our customers and a certain mix of customers on our service plans. If we have a disproportionate number of our customers on our lower priced service plans, if our customers do not purchase our service plans in the mix we anticipate, if we lower our prices to remain competitive, or if our customers use more services, such

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as data, roaming, domestic or international long distance, that we provide or purchase from third parties than we anticipate, it could result in lower revenues, higher expenses, lower profitability, and other adverse financial or operational consequences, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or operating results.

Our tax inclusive plans make us susceptible to increases in taxes and regulatory fees.

We offer service plans that include applicable taxes and regulatory fees for a flat fee and, as a result, we assume the risk of any change in taxes and regulatory fees. The government and regulatory agencies may increase the taxes and regulatory fees applicable or payable on our services and we may be at a greater risk from such increases because of budget shortfalls and regulatory policies. We do not have any control over changes in tax rates, laws, regulations or rulings, or federal and state tax assessments. If the government or regulatory agencies increase the taxes or regulatory fees that are attributable to our services, or change the services on which such taxes or regulatory fees are to be paid, change the methodology used to attribute revenues in a broadband service plan to its various constituent services, or change the characterization of our service, it could increase our costs and negatively impact the profitability of our services. In addition, if we attempted to pass through such increased taxes and regulatory fees to our customers, we could experience increased churn, decreased revenues, or slower customer growth. If we experience lower profitability, lower margins, increased churn, decreased revenues or slower growth or decreased sales, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

A failure to meet the demands of our customers could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

Customer demand for our products and services are impacted by numerous factors including, but not limited to:

• the different types of products, services, applications and content offered and the prices for and range of service plans, products, services, applications and content;

• service content, features, data speeds, technology, coverage, compatible handset options, distribution, service areas, network speed, capacity, coverage, operability and quality;

• customer perceptions;

• competition and competitive offers;

• economic conditions;

• the pricing structures used by our competitors; and

• customer care levels.

Managing these factors and customers' expectations of these factors is essential in attracting and retaining customers. We continually incur capital expenditures and operating expenses in order to improve and enhance our products, services, applications and content to remain competitive and to keep up with our customer demand, which include capital expenditures and expenses to expand the capacity and coverage of our network, to replace older technology or migrate to new technology platforms, vendors or services, to enhance or upgrade our networks, including capital expenditures and expenses to upgrade to future generation technologies, to purchase additional spectrum and necessary infrastructure equipment, to implement new or different services, service plans, handsets and related accessories to meet customer needs, to purchase or license additional services, applications or content, and to secure the necessary governmental approvals and renewals of our licenses necessary for our operations. Delays or failure to improve and enhance our products and services and expand the capacity of and upgrade our network to remain competitive and to keep up with our customer demand, could limit our ability to meet our customer demands or customer expectations. Further, even if we improve and enhance our products, services, applications and content and expand the capacity of and upgrade our network, there can be no assurance that our existing customers will not switch to another wireless provider or that we will be able to attract new customers. If we are unable to meet our customer demands or customer expectations, including providing customers with a reliable and compatible network and devices, or manage our sales, marketing, distribution, advertising, customer support, billing and collection, we may have difficulty attracting and retaining customers, which could increase our churn, reduce sales, result in slower growth, increase operating costs, reduce our profitability, and decrease our revenue, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

Similarly, if our vendors deliver new products, services, applications or content that do not work as anticipated, deliver such products, services, applications or content later than expected, fail to meet customer expectations, or fail to operate properly, we may not receive revenue on our investment in such new products, services, applications or content. For example, if a 4G LTE handset is lacking in certain features that our customers expect or the handset does not have the battery life or operating system our customers demand, our existing and potential customers may not purchase the handsets or customers who have purchased such handsets may return such handsets or churn. Further, we presently provide limited subsidies for handsets to our customers, so the price of the handset may also reduce the demand for the handsets and we will incur an expense equal to the difference

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between the price we pay for the handset and the price we receive from the customer. This could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

We may not be successful in continuing to grow our customer base.

Our business plan assumes continued growth in our customer base. Our ability to grow our customer base and achieve the customer penetration levels that we currently believe are possible with our business model in our markets is subject to a number of risks, some of which we do not control, including:

• our customers' demand for our products and services and our ability, or our suppliers' ability, to obtain or offer and provide products, services, applications or content which our current or prospective customers demand, want, expect or need, or for prices that they are willing to pay;

• competition from existing or new competitors;

• our ability to differentiate our products, services, applications or content from the products, services, applications or content offered by our competitors;

• higher than anticipated churn, or lower than anticipated gross additions;

• our ability to increase our network capacity, manage our network, or maintain network reliability to keep up with and meet increasing customer demand;

• our ability to upgrade our network in the future to provide the products, services, applications or content that our customers want, expect or demand;

• our ability to offer data services at speeds and prices with capacity that our customers want, expect or demand and that are attractive compared to the data services offered by our competitors;

• limitations in our customer service, billing and other systems;

• our ability to manage our inventory and adequately forecast our inventory needs, such as handset quantity, quality and type, and to meet customer demand for our products, services, applications or content;

• our ability to provide service in areas or provide applications or content wanted, expected or demanded by our current and prospective customers;

• our ability to attract, retain and appropriately incentivize our distribution channels, including our indirect agents and dealers for our products and services;

• our ability to increase the relevant coverage areas in our existing markets, to enter into or expand our roaming arrangements to areas that are important to our customers or to allow us to offer services at all or at rates which are attractive to our current and prospective customers;

• our ability to maintain our desired average revenue per user (ARPU);

• our ability to overcome market saturation or competition;

• our ability to manage the costs and usage of our services;

• unfavorable United States economic conditions, which may have a disproportionately negative impact on certain portions of our customer base including an impact on their ability to buy new handsets or pay for our services;

• changes in the demographics of our markets; and

• adverse changes in the legislative and regulatory environment that may limit our ability to differentiate our services or grow our customer base.

If we are unable to grow our customer base at the levels we project, or achieve the aggregate levels of customer penetration that we currently believe are possible with our business model, it could limit our ability to achieve additional economies of scale, and to repay our indebtedness, which could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and operating results.

Our business is seasonal and our operating results for future periods will be affected negatively if we fail to have strong customer growth in the first and fourth quarters.

Our customer activity is influenced by seasonal effects related to traditional retail selling periods and other factors that arise from our target customer base. Based on historical results, we generally expect the net customer additions to be strongest in the first and fourth quarters. Softening of sales and increased customer turnover, or churn, in the second and third calendar quarters of the year usually combine to result in fewer net customer additions or in net customer losses. However, sales activity and churn can be strongly affected by the launch of new metropolitan areas, introduction of new price plans, competition, general economic conditions and by promotional activity, which could reduce, accentuate, increase or outweigh certain seasonal effects. If we fail to meet our expectations for customer additions in the first or fourth quarter, it could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and operating results for future periods.

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Failing to manage our churn rate or experiencing a higher rate of customer turnover than we have forecasted could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

Our customers do not have long-term contracts and can discontinue their service at any time without penalty or advance notice to us. Our rate of customer churn can be affected by a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the following:

• network issues, including network coverage, network reliability, technology upgrades, data speeds, network capacity, network technology, network responsiveness, network security breaches, network congestion and network availability;

• poor call quality, lack of in-building coverage and dropped and blocked calls;

• limitations in our customer service, billing and other systems;

• geographic coverage, including roaming coverage, for all our services, including 4G LTE, at affordable rates, which has historically been less extensive than our competitors;

• affordability and unfavorable United States economic conditions, which may have a disproportionately negative impact on certain portions of our customer base including an impact on their ability to buy new handsets or pay for our services;

• supplier, vendor and distributor failures;

• customer perceptions of, demand for, and our prices for, our products, services, content, applications and offerings;

• customer care concerns, including reliance on automated customer service solutions that may not provide customers with the personal attention they desire;

• our ability to differentiate our products and services from our competitors;

• our ability to offer products, including smartphones, tablets, connected devices, services, content, applications and data services, with features, applications, content, and operating systems that our customers expect, want or demand at prices our customers will pay;

• our rate of growth;

• our rate plans, distribution model, and incentives to our direct dealers and agents;

• handset, application, and content selection and related issues, including lack of access, or early access, to the newest or iconic handsets, innovative wireless applications, and content, and handset prices and handset problems, including greater demand by our customers;

• the types, make-up and nature of our service plans and our marketing and promotional offers;

• wireless number portability requirements that allow customers to keep their wireless phone numbers when switching between service providers;

• our inability to offer bundled services or services offered by our competitors; and

• competition and competitive offers by other wireless broadband mobile service providers.

We cannot assure you that our churn will be consistent with the levels we have achieved historically or that our strategies to address customer churn will be successful. In addition, we may not be able to profitably replace customers who leave our service or replace them at all. If we experience a churn rate higher than we expect, or fail to replace lost customers, we could experience reduced revenues and increased marketing costs to attract replacement customers, which could reduce our profit margin and profitability, and could reduce the cash available to construct and operate new metropolitan areas, to expand coverage and capacity in existing metropolitan areas, or to upgrade our networks to new technologies, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

We may not successfully manage our handset inventories to meet the demands of our customers.

Our marketing and purchasing personnel are required to coordinate their activities to ensure that our distribution channels have adequate sales stock of handsets and other ancillary products to support our sales and marketing initiatives. Management of inventory balances requires accurate forecasting of customer growth and demand. Handsets and other ancillary products also are consumer products and can be subject to unforeseeable or unpredictable consumer trends and demands which may be difficult to accurately forecast or predict. We from time to time enter into purchase commitments related to the supply of our handsets based on such forecasting, historical purchasing trends and current customer demands and expectations. If we fail to predict and maintain an adequate sales stock of the appropriate model and type of handsets to meet the demands and preferences of our customers and to support our sales and marketing initiatives, we could have excess customer demand for handsets with only a limited supply or an excess supply of handsets for which we have limited or no demand. Additionally, if we misjudge consumer preferences or demands or future sales do not reach forecasted levels, we could have excess inventory that could not be sold easily. Further, if we do not have the handsets our customers want, we could fail to meet our customer's demands, resulting in lost sales opportunities. Any failure to manage and control our supply inventories, including our purchase commitments, could lead to lower growth, decreased revenues, increased churn or decreased profitability, and could result in significant write-offs of inventory or inventory sold at prices lower than expected, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and operating results.

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We may not be able to respond to the rapid technological changes occurring in the wireless industry.

The wireless telecommunications industry has been, and we believe will continue to be, characterized by significant and rapid technological change, including the rapid development and introduction of new technologies, products, and services. In order to be successful, we must anticipate these trends and develop new products, services, applications and content in a timely manner. We cannot give any assurance that we will be able to do so. Further, these technological advances, evolving industry standards, ongoing improvements in the capacity and the quality of digital technology, such as the implementation and development of 3G technology, wideband technologies such as WiFi which do not rely on FCC-licensed spectrum, the development of 4G technology, such as 4G LTE or WiMax, and the development of data and broadband capabilities, could cause the technology used by us on our wireless broadband mobile network to become less competitive or obsolete. The prevalence of electronic mail, web applications, content (including streaming audio and video) and non-voice communications may reduce the demand for some of our products and services and may increase the demand for other services. Additionally, VoIP is an emerging technological trend that could result in a decrease in demand for switched telephone services, such as those we currently provide. The resulting technological development of WiFi or WiMax enabled handsets permitting customers to communicate using voice and data services with their handset using this VoIP technology in any area equipped with a wireless Internet connection, or a hot spot, could potentially allow more carriers to offer larger bundles of minutes, or unlimited services, while retaining low prices and the ability to offer attractive roaming rates or allows carriers to offer unlimited services on WiFi and a limited number of mobile services which compete with our services. The number of hot spots in the U.S. is growing rapidly, with some major cities and urban areas approaching universal coverage. Further, the development of new equipment, such as pico, micro and femtocells, and small cells, could allow our competitors to offer increased usage without increased cost thus reducing our cost advantage. As a result, competitors using more traditional and commercially proven technological advances to provide service or using more efficient, less expensive technologies (including those not yet developed), may have a competitive advantage over us by retaining and increasing their customer base, realizing certain economies of scale, and receiving greater support from equipment and other manufacturers. As the CDMA infrastructure of our network becomes less popular or obsolete, the cost of compatible equipment and technology may also increase and we may also be subject to significant write-offs or changes in estimated useful life and we may have difficulty securing upgrades and improvements in such equipment when needed.

Our continued success will depend, in part, on our ability to anticipate or adapt to these and future technological changes and to offer, on a timely basis, products, services, applications and content that meet our customer demands. For us to keep pace with these technological changes and remain competitive, we may continue to make significant capital expenditures in our networks, acquire additional spectrum, and design and offer new products, services, applications and content. Customer acceptance of the products, applications, content, and services that we offer will continually be affected by technology-based differences in our product and service offerings and those offered by our competitors. We cannot assure you that we will obtain access to new technology on a timely basis, on satisfactory terms, or on our spectrum, or that we will have adequate spectrum, be able to acquire additional spectrum, or be able to add capacity to our networks, to offer new services, applications or content, or implement new technologies. If we do not offer these applications, content, or services, we may have difficulty attracting and retaining customers. Further, we cannot predict the effect of technological changes on our business. We also cannot be certain that the choices we make regarding technology and new service offerings will prove to be successful in the marketplace or will achieve their intended results. All of these factors could lead to decreased growth, decreased revenues, increased churn, and decreased profitability, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

We are dependent on certain network technology improvements, which may not occur or may be materially delayed.

Most national wireless broadband mobile carriers have greater spectrum capacity and spectrum with better propagation characteristics than we do that can be used to support 3G and 4G services. These national wireless broadband mobile carriers currently are investing substantial capital to deploy the necessary equipment to deliver 3G or 4G enhanced services, and have invested in additional spectrum to deliver 4G LTE services. The national wireless broadband mobile carriers in many instances have spectrum with better propagation characteristics than our spectrum and on average have more spectrum in each of the metropolitan areas in which we operate, or plan to operate than we have. We have deployed and are selling 4G LTE services in all of our major metropolitan areas, but because of the limited amount of spectrum available to us, we have deployed 4G LTE in selected metropolitan areas on 1.4, 3 and 5 MHz channels, which may be smaller channels than our competitors use for offering 4G LTE. Due to our limited spectrum, our networks have limited capacity and continued capacity increases in our metropolitan areas will require engineering solutions, which may not work as anticipated, or which may take longer to deploy than anticipated. As a result, we are dependent on, and more dependent than our competitors on, technology improvements to continue to grow and service the demands of our customers. We currently are dependent on a limited number of infrastructure

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and equipment providers to assist us in the development and deployment of our 4G LTE network and to manufacture equipment for use on our network.

Our limited spectrum and relatively high frequency spectrum may require us to lease more cell sites to provide equivalent service and coverage, spend greater capital compared to our competitors, deploy more expensive network equipment, such as six-sector antennas, make more extensive use of DAS systems, deploy equipment sooner, redeploy spectrum from 4G LTE to CDMA or EVDO, or rely more heavily on traffic management tools and solutions, or make us more dependent on technological development, than our competitors. There can be no assurance that we can lease adequate tower sites or additional spectrum, or access DAS systems, or that our suppliers will undertake the necessary and timely technological developments. Moreover, our 4G LTE technology may not perform as expected or deliver the quality and types of services or performance we expect, demand or need. Further, as a result of increased use of our CDMA networks, we may be required to reduce the amount of spectrum used for 4G LTE in order to increase the capacity of our existing CDMA networks. Further, we may be required to deploy solutions that we may need to replace in our network prior to being able to fully depreciate such solutions, which could require us to take write-offs. We cannot assure you that necessary quantities of equipment and compatible devices will be available on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, or will operate on our network or will provide the customer with the quality and quantity of features desired, nor that when delivered such equipment and devices will be at cost-effective prices.

If the anticipated 4G LTE technology improvements are not achieved, or are not achieved in the projected timeframes or at the costs we anticipate or can afford, or are not developed by our existing suppliers, we may not have adequate spectrum in certain metropolitan areas, which may limit our ability to increase our customer base, may cause our churn to increase, may inhibit our ability to achieve additional economies of scale, may limit our ability to offer certain products and services offered by our competitors, may require us to cease offering our services on an unlimited basis, may require us to spend considerably more capital and incur more operating expenses than our competitors with more spectrum or lower frequency spectrum, and may force us to purchase additional spectrum at a potentially material cost. If our network infrastructure vendors do not supply such improvements, or materially delay the delivery of such improvements, and other network equipment manufacturers are able to develop such technology, we may be at a material competitive disadvantage to our competitors and we may have higher costs or be required to change network infrastructure vendors, which would result in lost time and expense. Further, our 4G LTE expansion may result in the degradation of our existing services. There can be no assurance that our 4G LTE services will meet customer expectations, that we will be able to provide wireless broadband mobile data service on a profitable basis, or enter into roaming arrangements for 3G/4G services on economical terms or at all, or that vendors will develop and make available to companies of our size popular applications and handsets with features, functionality and pricing desired by customers. We also are planning to utilize Voice over Long Term Evolution, or VoLTE, technology to improve efficiency in the integration of voice and data services over our LTE networks, but we are dependent upon equipment manufacturers to develop and deploy this advanced voice technology on a timely, cost-effective basis. We can provide no assurance that such technology will be available in a timely or cost effective basis or will provide the benefits we expect it to provide. These risks if they occurred alone or in combination with other risks could reduce our customer growth, increase our costs of providing services and increase our churn, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

The success of our business is dependent on the development of products compatible with the services deployed by us.

We do not develop or manufacture any products and are dependent on the development of products, content, applications and services by third parties for the services and technology we have deployed and provide on our spectrum. Two of our national wireless broadband mobile competitors acquired a significant portion of the 700 MHz spectrum auctioned by the FCC. We hold a 700 MHz license which is in a different spectrum block than the 700 MHz licenses being developed by the two largest national wireless broadband mobile competitors, which presents certain risks because some equipment manufacturers are focusing their 700 MHz equipment development efforts on the channel blocks held by and/or being developed by the major carriers, and the 700 MHz equipment made by these manufacturers may not be interoperable on the 700 MHz channel block we hold. As a result, we may be unable to use, or may be materially delayed in using, our 700 MHz spectrum. And, we may have higher costs for devices and equipment for our 700 MHz spectrum and the prospects for both inbound and outbound roaming may be limited on 700 MHz spectrum. Further, we are deploying 4G LTE on PCS and AWS spectrum so unless our customer's handsets are capable of using the 700 MHz spectrum on which our competitors are deploying 4G LTE, our customers will not be able to roam on our competitors' networks for 4G LTE services even if we are successful in obtaining roaming arrangements with such competitors.

While we have elected to deploy 4G LTE on our AWS and PCS spectrum, several of our competitors have publicly indicated that they plan to deploy, and at least one has deployed, 4G LTE on 700 MHz spectrum. There can be no assurance that other licensees, including the national wireless broadband mobile carriers, will not delay or ultimately not deploy 4G LTE on AWS and PCS spectrum, or, if they do, they may convince manufacturers to only develop 4G LTE equipment for their spectrum. If other wireless broadband mobile licensees, including the large national wireless broadband mobile carriers, do not deploy 4G

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LTE on AWS and PCS or manufacturers develop equipment for them for this spectrum, we may have to pay higher prices for the products that we sell to our customers due to the limited number of users, we may not have products available to us at all, or such products may be limited in nature and not have the features and functions our customers want, expect or demand, and our customers may have limited roaming. In addition, such limitation could result in less technological development on network equipment that we use to offer 4G LTE services, or delays in any available technological developments, and we could be forced to pay higher prices for any such technological development. In addition, we are dependent on the national wireless broadband carriers continuing to deploy handsets and handset operating systems to which we have access. If the national wireless broadband carriers choose to deploy proprietary handsets, proprietary handset operating systems or handsets with only certain technologies in lieu of, or substantially in lieu of, handsets and handset operating systems to which we have access, we could experience higher prices for handsets and development of applications for the handsets and handset operating systems we deploy may lag the development on other handsets and handset operating systems. Further any handsets and handset operating systems that we deploy may lag behind the development of other handsets and handset operating systems with which we compete, or may not be developed at all. If we are unable to secure the necessary products at prices which will allow us to be competitive with other carriers of 4G LTE services, we may not be able to meet our customer expectations, demands, or needs, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or operating results.

We may be unable to provide 4G LTE roaming.

We do not anticipate being able initially, and may not in the future be able, to provide 4G LTE roaming service to our customers to allow them to have 4G LTE service outside our existing service areas. Since at this time a limited number of carriers have publicly announced that they are planning to deploy 4G LTE in the near future, the number of potential roaming partners for 4G LTE will be extremely limited and certain carriers are currently deploying, and other carriers may deploy, 4G LTE on spectrum that is different than the spectrum on which we are deploying 4G LTE. Other carriers have in the past, and may in the future, be reluctant to provide data roaming to us at all or on terms we consider to be acceptable. In addition, some of the carriers who currently provide roaming to us may be delayed in deploying, decide not to deploy, or be unable to deploy 4G LTE, which would limit our ability to provide 4G LTE services to our customers when they roam. Further, since 4G LTE is relatively new and carriers may attempt to differentiate their services using 4G LTE, carriers may be reluctant to allow roaming at all or at prices that would make roaming cost effective for our customers. If our customers or potential customers demand 4G LTE services on a nationwide basis or our competitors offer 4G services on a nationwide basis, we may be unable to meet customer expectations or demands and we may attract less than the anticipated number of 4G LTE customers or we may experience higher than anticipated levels of churn. If we do not attract the number of 4G LTE customers we anticipate, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financials and results of operations.

We are increasingly focused on providing nationwide service, but we may be unable to obtain the roaming and other services we need from other carriers at rates that allow us to provide such nationwide service and still remain competitive.

The market for our services increasingly requires that we provide nationwide coverage for such services. Many of our competitors have, or have access to, national networks with substantially larger footprints than we have covering substantially all of the United States population as well as international roaming arrangements, all of which enable them to offer automatic roaming, long distance telephone and 3G and 4G LTE services to their customers at a lower cost than we can offer. This also allows our competitors to sustain unlimited flat-rate local, and nationwide roaming plans on their existing networks over a larger area than we can sustain on an economic basis. We provide a significant portion of our nationwide services utilizing roaming agreements with other third party carriers, which allows our customers to roam on those carriers' networks to provide voice, text (and some data) services to areas outside our service areas and to improve coverage within select areas of our footprint. We have entered into agreements with other third party carriers who provide such roaming services to us and who carry long distance calls made by our customers. These roaming agreements, however, do not cover all geographic

areas where our customers may seek service when they travel, and they generally cover voice and text but may not cover data services or other advanced service features. These agreements are subject to renewal and termination rights, including in certain instances the right to terminate in the event we experience a change in control, and if such agreements are terminated or not renewed, the rates charged to us increase substantially, or our customers increase their use of roaming services, we may be required to pay significant amounts of money for roaming service and we may be unable to provide nationwide coverage to our customers on a cost-effective basis. Additionally, our aggregate roaming costs are highly susceptible to the geographic roaming patterns and usage patterns of our customers. Since our unlimited nationwide service plans do not include any incremental roaming charges, we absorb these costs such that as we add customers our roaming expenses will increase. If customers increase their roaming in amount or frequency our consolidated financial results could be negatively impacted.

Our ability to replicate other carriers' nationwide offerings at rates that will make us, or allow us to be, competitive is uncertain at this time. The FCC has clarified that broadband commercial mobile radio service, or CMRS, providers must offer automatic roaming for voice and short message service, or SMS, service both in and out of a requesting carrier's market, on just,

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reasonable and non-discriminatory terms, but found that a CMRS provider is not required to offer roaming services if the request is not reasonable. Carriers frequently disagree on what constitutes reasonable terms and conditions. The FCC will presume in the first instance that a request for automatic voice and SMS roaming is reasonable if the requesting carrier provides technologically compatible services. However, in finally assessing whether a roaming request is reasonable, the FCC will consider the request based on a totality of the circumstances and may use a number of factors, including the extent of the requesting carrier's build-out where it holds spectrum, and whether alternative roaming partners are available.

The FCC also has extended roaming rights to roaming services that are classified as information services (such as high-speed wireless Internet access services), and for roaming services that are not classified as CMRS (such as non-interconnected services), or data roaming services. This decision has been appealed by one of the nationwide carriers on the ground that the FCC does not have the authority to mandate data roaming, and the timing and outcome of the appeal cannot be predicted with certainty. The FCC has not classified these data roaming services as common carrier services. However, the FCC has required carriers to provide data roaming services on commercially reasonable terms and conditions, including price, but such data roaming services are not required to be offered on a non-discriminatory basis. The FCC has established a complaint mechanism, which may include arbitration, to resolve data roaming related disputes.

The wireless broadband mobile wireless industry has continued to experience consolidation and any consolidation would further reduce the carriers from which we could receive roaming services, including 4G LTE roaming services. If we are unable to enter into or maintain roaming agreements for roaming services that our customers desire at reasonable rates, including in areas where we have licenses or lease spectrum but have not constructed facilities, we may be unable to compete effectively and attract and retain customers, and we may lose revenues. At least one of these agreements requires us to prefer that carrier over others which may restrict our ability to receive the benefits of new roaming arrangements or lower prices. Several of our roaming agreements can be terminated for breach or if we experience a change in control such as the one contemplated under the Business Combination Agreement with T-Mobile. We also may be unable to continue to receive roaming services in areas in which we hold licenses or lease spectrum after the expiration or termination of our existing roaming agreements. We also may be obligated to allow customers of other technically compatible carriers to roam automatically on our systems, which may enhance their ability to compete with us.

Further, our roaming agreements and services may be with certain of our competitors and may create actual or potential conflicts of interest, and may cause the parties to make decisions or take actions that do not reflect the other's best interests. None of these agreements restricts us from entering into similar arrangements with other parties, but certain rights could be lost or agreements terminated if we enter into such a similar relationship. If any of the above risks occur, they may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

If we are unable to meet our customers' expectations for nationwide coverage for the services they want, it could reduce the number of new customers we add to our services and may increase our churn. We also may be unable to provide roaming for certain services at all or the rates may not be acceptable to our customers. If our customers demand roaming services and we are unable to provide such roaming at all or at cost effective rates, we could have increased churn, decreased growth, and lower revenue and profits. Further, if the rates we pay for roaming increase, it could reduce the profits we make on our services, or require us to cease providing such services on an unlimited basis. A termination of existing roaming agreements or a significant increase in the prices we pay for roaming could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results. Some of our roaming agreements also contain provisions allowing the other party to terminate in the event we experience a change in control such as the one contemplated under the Business Combination Agreement with T-Mobile. If we experience a change in control, we may lose the right to roam with certain carriers which could reduce the areas our customers receive services, or the types of services received. The occurrence of any such events could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial contracts and operating results.

The economy and economic conditions have a significant impact on our business.

In the recent past, the United States economy has deteriorated significantly, unemployment rates have increased and such conditions may continue for the foreseeable future. Our business has been affected and is being, and could be further, affected by such economic conditions, including, but not limited to, consumer credit conditions, consumer debt levels, rates of inflation, energy costs, gasoline prices, timing of tax refunds, availability of tax payer loans, unemployment rates, housing foreclosures, as well as consumer confidence and consumer spending. Moreover, the areas in which we operate may experience greater impact from these factors than other areas of the country or may recover more slowly. These factors are outside of our control. If economic conditions and unemployment rates continue to deteriorate, or remain depressed, our existing and future customer base may be disproportionately and adversely affected due to the generally lower per capita income of our customer base (versus the largest national facility-based wireless broadband mobile carriers) and their inability to pay and increased potential to terminate a portion or all of their services. In addition, a number of our customers work in industries or in areas of the

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country which may be disproportionately affected by an economic slowdown or recession. More generally, adverse changes in the economy are likely to negatively affect our customers' ability to pay for existing services and to decrease their interest in purchasing new services. These same economic conditions may negatively impact our third-party service providers who experience cash flow problems or liquidity concerns or are unable to obtain or refinance credit such that they may no longer be able to operate. The resulting impact of such economic conditions on our customers, on consumer and discretionary spending and on our product and service providers could have a material adverse effect on demand for our products, services and on our business, financial condition and operating results.

Business, political and regulatory and economic factors may significantly affect our operations, and the manner in which we conduct our business and slow our rate of growth.

Most of our handsets and our infrastructure equipment are purchased from vendors who are located outside of the United States and disruptions in trade with these countries or trade agreements could impact our ability to get the products and services we need to operate our business. The communications industry also is facing increasing scrutiny from regulators, Congress, the press and others on customer privacy and the collection, use and dissemination of customer information. There is substantial uncertainty regarding communication carriers' obligations under the law with regard to customer privacy and personal information and the laws and regulations which may govern a carrier's obligation to disclose such information to law enforcement. Recent Congressional inquiries and press stories have focused on the information that communications carriers are providing to law enforcement and the information being collected, stored, used and disseminated by communications carriers. There also have been a number of recent consent decrees with other companies outside of the communications industry relating to customer privacy. While the focus of these consent decrees have been on companies outside the communications industry there can be no assurance that it will remain so in the future. If our obligations under the law regarding compliance with law enforcement requests for customer information were to change or we were to become the focus of an inquiry, investigation or press stories into our privacy and customer information policies, it could require us to incur additional expenses, divert management attention, and could damage our reputation with our customers, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or operating results.

Additionally, there have been significant changes in the political climate and in the composition of the FCC as a result of the outcome of recent state elections and the last Presidential election in the United States. Several actions indicate that the FCC will be proactive in and may increase the regulation of wireless services, and we cannot predict with any certainty the nature and extent of the changes in federal, state and local laws, regulations and policy we will face, or the effect of such elections on any pending legislation. For example, changes in the political climate could affect the extent to which further consolidation of wireless carriers will be approved by the government and such changes could reduce our strategic merger and acquisition options. Further, regulatory requirements, such as open network access, could impose costs on us or limit our ability to provide our services in a cost effective or profitable way. Any changes in regulation, new policy initiatives, increased taxes or any other changes in state or federal law may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

We may be unable to enforce or protect our intellectual property and intellectual property rights.

We own, license, develop and use intellectual property, including patents, copyrights and trade secrets, in our business. While we engage in measures to protect our intellectual property, such measures offer limited protection and may not prevent the infringement or misappropriation of our information or our proprietary rights. Further, the enforcement of our intellectual property rights may require legal action, which may be costly and may not be successful, even if our rights are misappropriated or infringed.

We cannot assure you that any patent, trademark or service mark application, whether pending or future, will be granted or that any existing patent, trademark or service mark will not be infringed, challenged or invalidated or that any such registration will adequately protect our brand, products or image. If any of our intellectual property rights are infringed, challenged or invalidated, the costs associated with the protection and attempted enforcement of our rights and the potential loss of such rights could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

We and our suppliers may be subject to claims of infringement.

The technologies used in the communications industry are subject to a wide array of patents and other intellectual property rights. We also are increasingly providing operating systems, applications and content to our customers we license or obtain from others that may be subject to patent, trademark, copyright and other intellectual property rights. As a result, third parties may assert infringement and misappropriation claims against us or our suppliers from time to time based on our or their general business operations, the equipment, software or services we or they use or provide, the products, services, operating systems, applications and content we provide, or the specific operation of our wireless networks or service. We or our suppliers may be

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subject to infringement or misappropriation claims that, if successful, could preclude our ability to use, sell or license such product, service, application, content or network feature, preclude the supplier from supplying or licensing us with the products, software, applications, content and services we require to run our business or offer our product, service, application, content, require the supplier to change the products, software, applications, content and services they provide or license to us in a way which could have a material adverse effect on us, cause the supplier to increase the charges for their products, software, applications, content and services to us, or require us to pay royalties for a license for such products, software, applications or content or services. We also cannot guarantee that we will be fully protected against all losses associated with an infringement or misappropriation claim involving our manufacturers, licensors and suppliers who provide us with the equipment, software, applications, content, and technology that we use in our business or that we will be able to recoup any royalties paid. In addition, our suppliers may refuse to, or may be unable to, pay any damages or honor their defense and indemnification obligations to us, which may result in us having to bear such losses. We may also have to buy equipment, products, software, applications, content and services from other third party suppliers or pay royalties to the holders of intellectual property rights.

Moreover, we may be subject to claims that products, software, applications, content and services provided by different vendors, which we combine with products, software, applications, content or with services provided by other vendors or with our own products, software, applications or content and services in order to offer products, software, applications, or content and services to our customers, are infringing on or misappropriating the rights of others, and we may not have any indemnification protection from our vendors for these claims. Further, we have been, and in the future may be, subject to claims that certain business processes we use, product, service, application or content we provide, software, applications or content we license, or product, service, application or content we create may infringe on or misappropriate the rights of third parties, and we may have no indemnification rights from any of our vendors or suppliers. Whether or not an infringement or misappropriation claim is valid or successful, it could divert management's attention, involve us in costly and time consuming litigation, require us to enter into royalty or licensing agreements (which may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all), require us to pay royalties for prior periods, require us or our suppliers to redesign our or their business operations, processes, systems, software, applications, services or products to avoid claims of infringement or misappropriation, preclude our ability to offer certain products, software, applications, content, and services at all, or require us to purchase products, software, applications, content, and services from different vendors or not sell certain products, software, applications or content, or services. If a claim is found to be valid or if we or our suppliers cannot successfully negotiate a required royalty or license agreement, we could be forced to pay substantial damages, including potentially treble damages, and we could be subject to an injunction that could disrupt our business, prevent us from offering some or all of our products, content, software, applications or services and cause us to incur losses of customers or revenues, any of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

We and our suppliers may be subject to claims of product liability.

We do not manufacture or develop the products sold by us and generally rely upon our suppliers to provide us with products that meet all regulatory and safety requirements. We could be held liable along with the manufacturers of the products for any harm caused by products we sell if such products are later found to have design or manufacturing defects. For example, there have been claims made, and lawsuits filed that allege, that the rechargeable batteries in handsets may explode or catch on fire, including claims or lawsuits that name us as a party. Our agreements with our manufacturers, suppliers and vendors generally contain indemnification agreements to protect us from direct losses associated with product liability, but we cannot guarantee that the manufacturers, suppliers and vendors will honor or be able to honor the indemnification upon an assertion of a claim, that we will be able to enforce the indemnification, or that we will be fully protected against all losses associated with the product found to be defective. Any claim could result in losses, divert management's attention, or otherwise disrupt our business which could result in a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or operating results.

We currently have an exclusive arrangement with our billing services vendor.

A single billing provider, subject to certain exclusions, is our exclusive vendor for billing services in North America. If this provider does not perform its obligations under the agreement, or ceases to continue to develop, or substantially delays development of, new features or billing services, or ceases to support its existing billing systems, we may be unable to secure alternative billing services from another provider or providers in a timely manner, for a reasonable cost or otherwise, which could cause us, among other things, not to be able to bill our customers, not be able to introduce new products and services or service plans, not be able to respond to promotions and service plans offered by our competitors, provide customer care, grow our business, report financial results, or manage our business and we may have increased churn, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

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Substantially all of our network infrastructure equipment on each technology is manufactured or provided by a single network infrastructure vendor.

Substantially all of our broadband PCS and AWS, 1xRTT CDMA network infrastructure equipment is manufactured or provided by a single network infrastructure vendor. We have entered into a non-exclusive agreement with that vendor to provide us with PCS and AWS 1xRTT CDMA system products and services. A substantial portion of the equipment manufactured or provided by this vendor is proprietary, which means that equipment and software from other manufacturers may not work with this vendor's equipment and software, or may require the expenditure of additional capital, which may be material. The communications equipment market has been subject to recent economic turmoil. In addition, we have chosen to purchase our 4G LTE infrastructure from another vendor. As a result, this vendor may not develop or be unable to develop new products or services necessary to us or offer the same level of support as it has done in the past.

We also have entered into a non-exclusive agreement to purchase and license most of our 4G LTE system products, licensed materials and services from a single network infrastructure vendor. As 4G LTE is a new, complex technology, we cannot assure you that this vendor will develop the products we need, or develop such products in the timeframe or manner we require. In the event that this vendor fails to enhance, maintain, upgrade, or improve the 4G LTE products, software and services we have contracted to purchase from it when and how we need, we may be delayed in launching additional 4G LTE services or in upgrading or enhancing our 4G LTE services or we may fail to meet our customer's demands or expectations.

If any of our CDMA or 4G LTE network infrastructure vendors ceases to develop or substantially delays the development of new products, ceases to support existing products, equipment and software, fails to perform under the agreement, or fails to meet our needs or requirements, we may be required to spend significant amounts of money to replace such equipment and software, may not be able to offer new products and services, may be delayed in offering additional services, may not meet our customers' demands or expectations, and may not be able to compete effectively in our markets. If any of the foregoing risks occur, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

We use a single provider for most of our domestic and international long distance services.

We currently use a single provider for most of the domestic and international long distance services that we provide to our customers under the terms of a long-term contract with such provider. This arrangement requires us to send a significant portion of our domestic and international long distance traffic to the provider for transmission and termination. If the provider experiences service outages or other problems affecting its services, our customers may have difficulty completing domestic and international calls. As all of our service plans include domestic long distance services, any such disruption could have a significant effect on our customers which may cause them to become dissatisfied with our service. In addition, one of our service plans also includes international long distance and a disruption in that service, or the cessation of service to destinations which our customers want to call, could cause our customers to leave our service. As such, if the long distance services we provide do not meet the needs, demands or expectations of our customer, substantial numbers of customers could be dissatisfied or leave our service or we could have difficulty adding new customers, which could result in reduced growth, higher churn, lower revenues and reduced profitability, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

We rely on third parties to provide products, software, applications and services that are integral to our business.

Sophisticated financial, management, information, network management, cyber security and billing systems are vital to our business. We currently rely on internal systems and third-party vendors to develop and to provide all of these systems. We have entered into agreements with third-party suppliers to provide products, software, applications, services and content that are integral to our business, such as customer care, product distribution, content development, financial reporting, network management, network infrastructure equipment, cyber security and services and billing and payment processing. We purchase a substantial portion of the products, software, services and content from only a few major suppliers and we generally rely on one or two key vendors in each area. Some of these agreements may be terminated upon relatively short notice. In addition, our plans for developing and implementing our financial information and billing systems rely to some extent on the design, development and delivery of products, software, applications, and services by third-party vendors. Our right to use these systems is dependent on agreements with third-party vendors and these systems may not perform as anticipated.

If our suppliers terminate their agreements with us, experience a disruption or difficulty in raising necessary capital, go bankrupt, do not develop or enhance their products, services, software, or applications at all or in a timely manner, or experience interruptions or other problems delivering quality products, software, applications or services to us on a timely basis or at all, it may result in significantly increased prices or cause us to have difficulty providing services to or billing our customers, developing, delivering, and deploying new products (including sufficient volume and types) and services and/or

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upgrading, maintaining, improving our networks, generating accurate or timely financial reports and information, providing customer care, or meeting the demands, requirements or expectations of our customers. If alternative suppliers and vendors become necessary, we may not be able to obtain satisfactory and timely replacement services on economically attractive terms, or at all. Our reliance on others to provide essential products, software, applications, and services on our behalf also gives us less control over the efficiency, timeliness and quality of these products, software and services. Any failure of one of the vendors to meet their contractual commitments, to provide the products, software, services or applications we need or our customers demand or expect, the loss, termination or expiration of these agreements, or our inability to renew these arrangements at all or on favorable terms or negotiate agreements with other providers at comparable rates could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

We rely heavily on indirect distribution channels.

Unlike many of our competitors that rely upon “big box” retailers, company-owned stores, direct sales forces, and exclusive partners, our business model utilizes and relies predominately on indirect distribution outlets including a range of exclusive and non-exclusive local, regional and national mass-market dealers and retailers allowing us to reach the largest number of potential customers in our metropolitan areas at a relatively low cost. Approximately 90% of the sales of our handsets and services occur through these indirect distribution channels. Many of our dealers own and operate more than one location and may operate in more than one of our metropolitan areas. Because these third party dealers are the primary contact between us and our customers in many instances, including accepting payment for our services on our behalf, they play an important role in our ability to grow our business and in customer retention. With the recent deterioration of the United States economy, employment rates, mortgage foreclosures, and the credit markets, in addition to our reduced growth, which may continue for the foreseeable future, some of our dealers and vendors have experienced, and may in the future experience, problems and may be unable to continue their operations or secure funds for their continued operations or to grow their operations. Further, due to the present economic conditions, we may be unable to find participants in our local markets that would qualify or be able to open a location to replace closed operations. Moreover, since we rely on such third parties to provide some of our services, any bankruptcy, termination, switch or disruption in service by such third parties or diminution in the number of such third parties could be costly and affect operating efficiencies and our ability to attract and retain customers which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

Additionally, as more of our competitors use third party dealers to market and sell their products and services, competition for dealers is intense and larger competitors are able to offer higher commissions and other benefits. As a result, we may have difficulty attracting and retaining dealers, or getting them to focus on distributing our products and services, and any inability to do so could have an adverse effect on our ability to attract and retain customers, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

We and our indirect dealers face direct competition with some of our other indirect distribution agents and dealers.

Many of our indirect distribution outlets, primarily local dealers, are not our exclusive dealers, meaning that these dealers may sell other third party products, applications, content and services in direct competition with us and other indirect dealers in the same location. Additionally, we strive to ensure that our customers have access to a wide variety of products and services within their geographic area, which means some of our dealers may be located within close proximity to one another and compete for the same customer base. As a result of the direct competition we encounter in some of our dealer locations, the potential for competition among our local dealers, and competition and other promotional offers for non-exclusive dealers, we may experience reduced sales in certain geographic areas, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

Our agreements with our indirect distribution agents may be terminated on relatively short notice.

Our agreements with our third party indirect distribution agents to market and sell our products and services can be terminated by us or by such indirect distribution agents on relatively short notice. Our competitors are focused on increasing their distribution, and the relatively short termination period may allow our competitors to switch our indirect distribution agents to their products and services. In addition, if the economy deteriorates or does not further improve, some of these indirect distribution agents may cease to operate. If we lose our indirect distribution, we may have difficulty finding new companies to distribute our products and services, or we may be forced to increase the amount of payments we make to our indirect distribution agents. If any of these occur, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operational results.

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We rely on DAS systems to provide our services more so than our competitors.

We currently use, and plan to continue to use, DAS systems in lieu of traditional cell sites to provide service to certain critical portions of certain metropolitan areas. In order to construct DAS systems, the DAS provider will be required to obtain necessary authority from the relevant state and local regulatory authorities and to secure certain agreements, such as right of way agreements, in order to construct or operate the DAS systems. To the extent that the costs or rates of obtaining such DAS services increases, our future operating costs could increase. In addition, the DAS system provider may be required to construct a transport network as part of their construction of the DAS systems. These DAS systems may be leased and/or licensed from third party suppliers. Some of the DAS system providers we are using have not previously constructed or been authorized to construct DAS systems in certain of the areas we plan to build DAS systems so there may be unforeseen obstacles and delays in constructing the DAS systems in those areas. DAS systems also pose particular compliance challenges with regard to any regulatory requirements that may be adopted by the FCC, such as back-up power requirements, and may be susceptible to certain weather conditions, such as flooding or power outages. If any of these risks occur, it could have a material adverse effect on our ability to comply with applicable laws, could require us to spend significant amounts of additional capital, could delay or affect our ability to offer our services, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

We utilize a limited number of cell site and DAS providers.

We utilize a limited number of DAS providers and a significant portion of our cell sites are leased from a small number of cell site providers. In addition, the cell site industry is consolidating. If our master agreement with one of our cell site or DAS providers were to terminate, or if the cell site or DAS system providers were to experience severe financial difficulties or file for bankruptcy, or if one of these cell site or DAS system providers were unable to support our use of its cell sites or DAS systems, we would have to find new sites or rebuild the affected portion of our network. In addition, the concentration of our cell site leases and DAS systems with a limited number of cell site and DAS system providers could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results if we are unable to renew our expiring leases or DAS system agreements with these companies either on terms comparable to those we have today or at all. In addition, if any of the companies from which we lease towers or DAS systems were to consolidate with other cell site or DAS systems companies, they may be unable to honor obligations to us or have the ability to raise prices, which could materially affect our profitability. If a material number of cell sites or DAS systems were no longer available for our use, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

We may incur higher than anticipated intercarrier compensation costs and be drawn into intercarrier compensation disputes.

When our customers use our service to call customers of other carriers, we are required in certain circumstances under the current intercarrier compensation scheme to pay the carrier that serves the called party, and any intermediary or transit carrier, for the use of their networks. And, as a wireless carrier we are not entitled to receive access payments from interexchange carriers who route calls for termination on our network. However, the FCC recently adopted an order that significantly reforms the existing intercarrier compensation scheme, adopting a unified intercarrier compensation regime for all traffic exchanged between all carriers, including CMRS carriers such as us. This new regime includes a transition period in which rates for the termination of non-intra MTA CMRS access will decrease over periods specified by the FCC, and will culminate in all traffic exchanged between carriers being at bill-and-keep, meaning that carriers will not charge each other for the exchange of traffic. The new regime implemented the default rule with regard to the rates for all intraMTA traffic exchanged between CMRS and local exchange carriers to bill-and-keep as of July 2012. The FCC's new intercarrier compensation regime is subject to numerous appeals and petitions for reconsideration, and we are unable to predict the outcome of such appeals and petitions for reconsideration at this time. In addition, the FCC has released a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in which it seeks comment on specifics related to the ultimate transition to a bill-and-keep regime.

We resell third party international interexchange services in connection with certain of our international interexchange services. The charges for these services may be subject to change by the terminating or interconnecting carrier, or by the regulatory body or agency having jurisdiction in the applicable foreign country. In the event that the charges change, the terminating or interconnecting carrier may attempt to assess such charges retroactively on us or our third party international interexchange carrier, which charges may be substantial, or we may cease providing service to such foreign country, which may cause prospective customers to not subscribe to our service or current customers to terminate their service from us. If we are assessed additional charges on a retroactive basis, the use of our services results in significant intercarrier costs, we are unable or unwilling to offer services to certain foreign destinations, or prospective customers do not subscribe to our service or current customers terminate service with us, it could limit our ability to grow our customer base which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

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Some carriers who terminate calls originated by our customers have sought, and others may seek, to impose termination charges on us that we consider to be unreasonably high and have threatened to pursue, or have initiated or may initiate, claims against us to recover these charges. We have been drawn into multiple state commission proceedings in which local exchange carriers are seeking approval of past wireless termination rates that we consider to be excessive. The outcome of these claims is uncertain. A determination that we are liable for additional or excessive terminating compensation payments could subject us to additional claims by other carriers and while we have reserved funds we believe are appropriate for such claims, litigation is uncertain and the amount determined by a court or regulatory agency could be different than our reserves. Further, legal and business considerations inhibit our ability or willingness to block traffic to telecommunication carriers who demand unreasonable payments. The FCC, in its recent Order on Reconsideration reforming intercarrier compensation, has held that the exchange of intraMTA traffic between local exchange carriers and CMRS providers, when the parties have an interconnection agreement, will be exchanged at a default rate of bill-and-keep as of July 1, 2012. The FCC also held that the exchange of intraMTA traffic between local exchange carriers and CMRS providers, when the parties do not have an interconnection agreement, will be exchanged at a default rate of bill-and-keep as of December 29, 2011. While the impact of these changes in the intercarrier compensation arrangements between LECs and CMRS carriers generally is considered to be favorable to us, it is difficult to quantify the benefit of this. We also may be subject to protracted litigation proceedings pertaining to the new comprehensive intercarrier compensation regime that may subject us to substantial costs and result in uncertainty. In addition, certain transit carriers have taken the position that they can charge “market” rates for transit services, which rates may in some instances be significantly higher than our current rates or the rates we are willing to pay. While the FCC has recently released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on this issue, the outcome is uncertain. We may be obligated to pay these higher rates and/or purchase services from others, engage in direct connection, or pay terminating compensation charges in the absence of negotiated agreements, which may result in higher costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and operating results.

A portion of our third-party customer service and technical support providers and a portion of our revenue are derived from geographic areas susceptible to political instability and natural and other disasters.

Our focus on major metropolitan areas and our use of third party suppliers and service providers, some of which are located in developing nations, such as Mexico, Panama, Antigua and the Philippines, may make the availability of our products and services more susceptible to certain events, including political upheavals, war, terrorist attacks, strikes, natural disasters, and pandemics. The outsourcing of certain customer and technical support lowers our operating costs and adds flexibility, but also adds risk as we rely on these third-party service providers to work directly on our behalf with our customers. Customers may react negatively to or have certain perceptions about our use of or their receiving direct customer and technical support from outside the U.S., especially with the current political scrutiny and focus on jobs being sent overseas and the security of personal information being sent overseas. In addition, a number of our markets and certain of our centralized network equipment are located in areas which have a history of natural disasters that may adversely affect our operations in those areas such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, snowstorms, ice storms, or flooding. In certain instances we or our suppliers and service providers do not have redundant facilities. These national disasters could affect our ability to provide our services and cause us to have to stop or limit selling and servicing our customers and products. These events also may cause our networks to cease operating for a substantial period of time while we reconstruct or repair them and our competitors may be less affected than we are. Some network outages give rise to regulatory reporting obligations, which subject us to additional burdens and risks, and if we fail to meet such obligations, it could result in fines, forfeitures, consent decrees, corporate monitors or other adverse actions. We cannot provide any assurance that the business interruption insurance and property insurance we have will cover all losses we may experience as a result of such events, that the insurance carrier will be solvent, that rates will remain commercially reasonable, that the insurance carrier will not drop us, or that the insurance carrier will pay all claims made by us. If we experience any of these events, we may have reduced revenue, lower growth, increased churn, increased expenses, and reduced profitability, and may have difficulty finding new suppliers and vendors, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

Our success depends on our ability to attract and retain qualified management and other personnel.

Our business is managed by a small number of key executive officers, including our chief executive officer, Roger Linquist. None of our managing key executives has an employment contract, so any such executive officers may leave at any time subject to forfeiture of any unpaid performance awards and any unvested options or restricted stock. In addition, at this time, the exercise price of a substantial portion of the unvested options of our key executive officers is above, and in some cases significantly above, the current trading prices of our common stock. We believe that our future success depends in substantial part on our continued ability to attract and retain highly knowledgeable, qualified executive, technical and management personnel. We believe that competition for highly qualified management, technical and sales personnel is intense, and there can be no assurance that we will retain our key management, technical and sales employees, that we will be successful in attracting,

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assimilating or retaining other highly qualified management, technical and sales personnel in the future sufficient to support our continued growth, or that we will be successful in replacing any of our key management, technical and sales personnel that may retire or cease to be employed by us. We have experienced occasional difficulties in recruiting qualified personnel and there can be no assurance that we will not experience such difficulties in the future. The departure or retirement of, or our inability to attract or retain, highly qualified executive, technical and management personnel, including the chief executive officer, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

We are exposed to counterparty risk in our senior secured credit facility and related interest rate protection agreements.

We have entered into interest rate protection agreements to manage the Company's interest rate risk exposure by fixing a portion of the interest expense we pay under our senior secured credit facility; however, there can be no assurance that these will be effective or that we will be able to continue to enter into these agreements at a reasonable cost. There has been considerable turmoil in the world economy and banking markets, which could affect whether the counterparties to such interest rate protection agreements are able to honor their agreements. If the counterparties fail to honor their commitments, we could experience higher interest rates, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

The investment of our substantial cash balances are subject to risk.

We have substantial cash balances and we can and have historically invested our substantial cash balances in, among other things, securities issued and fully guaranteed by the United States or any state, highly rated commercial paper and auction rate securities, money market funds meeting certain criteria, and demand deposits. As a result of uncertainty in the United States political arena, the United States economy, and the credit and financial markets, together with the potential impact of the failure of the United States government to raise the United States debt ceiling and the possible downgrade of the United States debt credit rating, the stability of the trading market for United States government securities and treasury auctions could be adversely impacted or impaired and the United States government may be unable to satisfy their obligations under any treasury securities we hold. We are also exposed to risks resulting from the deterioration in the financial condition of financial institutions holding our cash deposits, decisions of the investment managers of the money market funds and defaults in securities underlying the funds. All our investments are subject to credit, liquidity, market and interest rate risk. Such risks may result in a loss of liquidity, substantial impairment to our investments, realization of substantial future losses, or a complete loss of the investment in the long-term, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, operating results and liquidity.

Recent political changes could have an adverse effect on our relationship with our workforce.

None of our employees is covered by a collective bargaining agreement or represented by an employee union. With the ongoing changes in the party affiliations the party composition of Congress, the President of the United States and the changes in composition of Federal and state legislatures, legislation or regulatory, policies, rules and regulations have been proposed and may be enacted or promulgated which could impose additional requirements on us or make it easier for union organizing activities. If our employees become represented by an employee union or are subject to a collective bargaining agreement, it may make it more difficult for us to manage our business and to attract and retain new employees and may increase our cost of doing business. Having our employees become represented by an employee union, having a collective bargaining agreement or having additional requirements related to our employees imposed on us could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

We are subject to numerous taxes, surcharges and fees from federal, state and local governments, and the applicability and the amount of these taxes, surcharges and fees is subject to great uncertainty and an increase in the amount of such taxes, surcharges and fees could have an adverse effect on our business.

Communications providers pay a variety of surcharges and fees on their gross revenues from interstate and intrastate services, including federal Universal Service Fund, or USF, fees and common carrier regulatory fees. Some of these fees are based on the division of our services between interstate services and intrastate services, including the divisions associated with the federal USF fees, which is a matter of interpretation and, in the future, may be contested by the FCC or state authorities. The FCC also may change in the future the basis on which federal USF fees are charged. The FCC has released a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in which it seeks comment on the contribution methodology and mechanism for USF. If certain of the proposals are adopted, it could increase the amount of our contribution to USF which we may not be able to recover from our customers. We cannot predict the outcome of this USF reform. The FCC may impose other charges or fees on our business, such as recurring spectrum usage or licensing fees. Many states also apply transaction-based taxes to sales of our products and services and to our purchases of communications services from various carriers. In addition, state regulators and local

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governments have imposed and may in the future impose various surcharges, taxes and fees on our services. Further, in some instances state legislatures have imposed different taxes, surcharges, fees and requirements on prepaid services than on post-paid services and in some cases it is uncertain which requirements apply to our services and some of the services which we compete with may be subject to lower taxes, surcharges, or regulatory fees. The jurisdictions may contest whether we have assessed and remitted the taxes, fees and surcharges correctly or have complied with such requirements. In addition, state and federal regulators periodically have and may in the future increase or change the taxes, surcharges and fees we currently pay. We believe we remit all applicable federal, state and local taxes, fees, costs and expenses as required, but we do not recover in all instances these regulatory and compliance taxes, fees, costs and expenses directly from our customers and there can be no assurance that we would be found to be fully compliant with the payment of such taxes, fees, costs and expenses. If we were to pass on these taxes, fees, costs and expenses to our customers in the future, it may affect our ability to retain and attract new customers. Because of fiscal budget deficits at many state and local jurisdictions, state and local municipalities may increase taxes, surcharges and regulatory fees on our services. Any increase in taxes, fees, surcharges, and expenses could reduce our growth, decrease our revenues, increase our costs, reduce our profitability and increase our churn, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

As a taxpayer, we are subject to frequent and regular audits and examinations by the Internal Revenue Service, as well as state and local tax authorities. These tax audits and examinations may result in tax liabilities that differ materially from those that we have recorded in our consolidated financial statements. Because the ultimate outcomes of these matters are uncertain, we can give no assurance as to whether an adverse result from one or more of them will have a material effect on our business, financial condition or operating results.

Concerns about whether wireless telephones pose health and safety risks may lead to the adoption of new regulations or lawsuits that could adversely affect our business.

Media reports and some studies have given rise to claims that radio frequency emissions from wireless handsets may be linked to various health concerns, including cancer, or interfere with various electronic devices, including air bags, hearing aids, pacemakers and other medical devices. Additional studies have been undertaken to determine whether the claims based on these reports and studies are accurate. Further lawsuits have also been filed against various participants in the wireless industry alleging various adverse health consequences as a result of wireless phone usage. While many of these alleged adverse health lawsuits have been dismissed on various grounds, including a lack of scientific evidence linking wireless handsets with such adverse health consequences, future lawsuits could be filed based on new evidence or in different jurisdictions. Most of these lawsuits allege personal injury claims, although courts have begun to permit claims for economic loss due to omissions or misrepresentations in the marketing of the handsets. If lawsuits regarding any of the above are filed against us, it could be costly to defend, divert management's attention from the business, and could subject us to substantial liability. If any such suits do succeed, or if plaintiffs are successful in negotiating settlements, it is likely additional suits would follow. In addition to health concerns, safety concerns have been raised with respect to the use of wireless handsets, including texting, while driving. Certain states and municipalities in which we provide service or plan to provide service have passed or proposed laws prohibiting or restricting the use of wireless phones while driving, prohibiting texting while driving, limiting use of wireless devices while driving by persons under the age of 18, or requiring the use of wireless headsets, and other states, municipalities and the federal government may do so in the future. In addition, legislation has been introduced which would require prepaid carriers to collect and verify certain information from their subscribers. We generally do not verify information we collect from our customers. If we are required to do so it could affect our ability to sell our products or the willingness of certain third party distributors to sell our products.

If consumers' health concerns over radio frequency emissions increase or safety concerns increase, the number of lawsuits filed against us may increase, consumers may be discouraged from using wireless handsets or services and regulators may impose restrictions or increased requirements on the location and operation of cell sites, the use or design of wireless telephones, the use of wireless handsets while driving, or the inclusion of an earpiece on all wireless telephones that would enable the use of wireless telephones without holding them against the user's head. Such legislation or regulation could increase the cost of our wireless handsets, reduce demand for our products and services, increase other operating expenses, or expose wireless providers to further litigation, including litigation relating to accidents, deaths or serious bodily injury allegedly incurred as a result of wireless telephone use, which, even if not successful, may be costly to defend, could divert management's attention from our business, and could subject us to significant liability. See also “Settlements, judgments, restraints on our current or future manner of doing business or legal costs resulting from pending or future litigation could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and operating results” under General Matters. In addition, compliance with such new requirements, and the associated costs, could adversely affect our business. The actual or perceived risk of radio frequency emissions could adversely affect us through a reduction in customers or a reduction in the availability of financing in the future. If any of these risks occur, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

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System failures, security breaches and the unauthorized use of or interference with our information technology systems and networks could cause delays or interruptions of service or unauthorized use or dissemination of customer information, increase our cost of operations, and may result in harm to our business reputation, which could cause us to lose customers.

To be successful, we must provide our customers reliable, trustworthy service and protect the communications, location and personal information shared or generated by our customers. We rely upon our systems and networks and the systems and networks of other providers and vendors to provide and support all of our services and, in some cases, to protect our customers' and our information. Some of the risks to our information technology systems and our networks and infrastructure, which may prevent us from providing reliable service or which may allow for the unauthorized interception, destruction, use or dissemination of our customers' communications, location or personal information, include:

• physical damage, power surges or outages or equipment failure;

• vendor or supplier failures or delays;

• viruses, malware, worms, software defects, Trojan horses, unsolicited mass advertising, denial of service and other malicious or abusive attacks by third parties, including cyber attacks or other breaches of network or information technology security;

• fraud, including customer credit card fraud, subscription or dealer fraud;

• unauthorized use of our or our provider's networks;

• unauthorized access to our information technology, billing, customer care, provisioning systems and networks and those of our vendors and other providers;

• human error;

• demands placed on our network by devices, services or content demanded by our customers;

• disruptions, damage or unauthorized access beyond our control, including disruptions or damage, or unauthorized access caused by criminal or terrorist activities, theft, natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, or fire, power surges, or equipment failure; and

• failures in operational support systems.

Network disruptions, whether from natural causes or manmade (including breaches of our network security), may cause interruptions in service, degradation of service, breaches, dissemination, destruction of or access to customer communications, location information, or personal information, excessive call volumes to call centers, damage to our or our customers' equipment, theft of or illegal access to customer communications, location information, or information, or reduced capacity for customers, any of which could cause us to lose customers, lose revenue, suffer reputational and goodwill damages, embroil us in litigation and cause us to incur remediation costs, including liability for stolen information, repairing systems, or incentives offered to customers after an attack and increased cyber security protection costs, including organizational changes, deploying additional personnel and technologies, and training or engaging consultants. Some portions of our network are not fully redundant and our disaster relief plans may not be adequate or timely. The resulting interruption or failure to provide our services, including the harm to our reputation, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

We also purchase equipment, including handsets, and license software from third parties, including some that may originate in China. While we generally test equipment and software we purchase that we put in our networks, we cannot be assured that such equipment or software does not contain software defects, Trojan horses, malware, or other means by which third parties could access our network or the information, including our customer communications, location information, or information, stored or transmitted on such networks or equipment.

As a predominantly unlimited service provider we typically do not have as robust a system to detect customer fraud as other wireless broadband mobile carriers. In addition, we may be subject to fraud by our indirect distribution channel as they are generally paid based on gross additions and on the service plan they sign a customer up for initially. Further, our administrative and capital costs associated with detecting, monitoring and reducing the incidence of fraud and illegal attempts to access our systems to destroy or steal our customer information, or the costs to replace or repair the network or facilities (or portions thereof), may be substantial, thus causing our costs to provide service to increase. Fraudulent use of our networks may also impact interconnection and domestic and international long distance costs, capacity costs, roaming costs, administrative costs, fraud prevention costs and payments to other carriers for such fraud. If the safeguards we have instituted to protect, detect and control such fraud and illegal access to our systems and networks are not successful, such fraud, illegal access, or increased costs could impact on our financial results, impair our service resulting in higher churn as our competitors systems may not experience similar problems, and damage our reputation and goodwill, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

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Despite our network security, processes and strategies we have put in place with respect to our systems and networks, including confidential customer data, our physical facilities, information systems and networks are not completely secure and may be vulnerable to physical or on-line break-ins, computer viruses, theft, attacks by hackers, cyber attacks or similar disruptive problems. If hackers/cyber thieves gain improper access to our networks, systems, or databases, they may be able to access, steal, publish, delete, misappropriate or modify confidential personal information concerning our customers that could result in harm to our customers and additional harm perpetrated by third parties who are given access to the consumer data, which could give rise to loss of goodwill, customer churn, and litigation against us. Due to the evolving techniques used in cyber attacks and by hackers to sabotage or gain unauthorized access to our systems, we may not be able to anticipate or implement adequate preventive measures in time or prevent such unauthorized access, we may need to expend significant resources to protect against security breaches to address problems caused by breaches, and our insurance may not be adequate to reimburse us for losses caused by such security breaches. The actual or perceived failure of our network's security could damage our reputation and public perception of our ability to provide a secure service, which could adversely affect our ability to retain or gain new customers, expose us to significant liability, sanctions, fines and litigation, increase churn and have a resulting material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

Risks Related to Legal and Regulatory Matters

Our ability to provide service to our customers and generate revenues could be harmed by adverse regulatory action.

Our FCC licenses are major assets that are integral to our ability to provide our services. Our FCC licenses need to be periodically renewed and are subject to revocation and we may be subject to fines, forfeitures, penalties or other sanctions, including the imposition of mandatory reporting requirements, license conditions, corporate monitors, forfeiture of existing licenses, denial of renewal, and limitations on our ability to participate in future FCC auctions, if the FCC were to find that we are not in compliance with its rules or the requirements of the Communications Act. The licensing requirements we must meet also are subject to change by the FCC. Many of our licenses are subject to interim or final construction requirements and there is no guarantee that the FCC will find our construction, or the construction of prior licensees, sufficient to meet the applicable construction requirements. If the FCC finds that our construction, or the construction of prior licensees, is insufficient, the FCC could, among other things, find that we are not a qualified licensee and revoke any or all of our licenses, refuse to renew such licenses, and impose other penalties and sanctions. In addition, a failure to comply with applicable license conditions or regulatory requirements could result in revocation or termination of our licenses, the loss of rights to serve unbuilt areas and/or fines and forfeitures, or a refusal to renew the licenses. We have had inquiries from regulatory agencies regarding our compliance with regulatory requirements, and we may in the future receive additional inquiries. We have responded, are in the process of responding, or will respond to such inquiries. The regulatory obligations we have are complex and are subject to interpretation. We cannot give any assurance that the FCC will agree with our compliance efforts or that the FCC will not impose fines, fees, or forfeitures, seek a consent decree, or take other adverse action against us. In addition, we have entered into consent decrees imposing additional requirements on us.

We must renew our FCC licenses periodically. Renewal applications are subject to FCC review and public comment to ensure that licensees meet their licensing requirements and comply with other applicable FCC requirements, rules and regulations. For all PCS, AWS and 700 MHz licenses, the FCC also requires that a licensee provide substantial service in order to receive a renewal expectancy. There is no guarantee that the FCC will find our completed system construction sufficient to meet the build out or renewal requirement. Additionally, while incumbent licensees enjoy a certain renewal expectancy if they provide substantial service, the substantial service standard is not well articulated and there is no guarantee that the FCC will conclude that we are providing substantial service or that we are entitled to a renewal expectancy, or will renew all or any of our licenses, without the imposition of adverse conditions. The FCC has released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking to create consistent requirements for renewal of licenses and consistent consequences for discontinuance of service, and to clarify certain construction obligations. The proposed changes to the existing renewal and discontinuance of service requirements may be applied retroactively to existing licenses that will be renewed in the future. If the changed requirements are applied retroactively to our existing licenses, the FCC may determine that our construction, or the construction undertaken by prior licensees, or the actions taken by us, or the prior licensees, relating to the buildout or discontinuance of service does not satisfy such changed requirements and determine not to renew our licenses. If we fail to file for renewal of any particular license at the appropriate time, or fail to meet any regulatory requirements for renewal, including construction and substantial service requirements, we could be denied a license renewal or be subject to a competing application. The FCC also may impose additional regulatory requirements or conditions on our licenses or our business and may impose a substantial renewal fee to allow a licensee to continue to use a particular spectrum. Such additional regulatory requirements, fees or conditions could increase the cost of doing business, could cause disruption to existing networks, and could require us to make substantial investments. Any loss or impairment of any of these licenses, failure to renew, fines and forfeitures, the imposition of conditions, the entry into consent decrees, or other actions by the FCC could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

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We may be unable to obtain necessary governmental authorizations and permits on reasonable terms and conditions.

Our ability to operate our business is dependent on, among other things, our ability to obtain a variety of governmental authorizations and permits in the planning, construction and operation of our networks. Obtaining governmental authorizations and permits can be very time consuming and time sensitive and require compliance with a wide array of administrative and procedural rules. Further, constructing cell sites may require zoning and other variances and permits from local agencies which are subject to public input. Public input on zoning and other variances may be negative, which could lead local agencies to deny permits necessary for us to construct or modify our sites. To remain competitive, we must obtain such authorizations and permits on a timely basis, at a reasonable cost and on acceptable terms and conditions. If we cannot obtain the necessary governmental authorizations and permits at all or on reasonable terms and conditions, we may incur substantial costs associated with finding an alternate, viable resolution, relocating sites and infrastructure and writing off cost and expenses associated with sites we are unable to use, and we may experience a delay or impairment in the provisioning of our services which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

We are subject to significant federal, state and local regulation.

Our business is subject to a wide array of rules, regulations, and orders promulgated by local, state, and federal agencies. The FCC regulates most aspects of our business and the provision of our services, including the licensing, construction, modification, operation, ownership, sale and interconnection of wireless communications systems, as do some state and local regulatory agencies.

For instance, the FCC generally regulates many aspects of interstate and intrastate communications and state utility commissions generally regulate many aspects of intrastate communications. Generally, we must obtain and maintain certificates of authority from the FCC and from regulatory bodies in certain states where we offer regulated services, and we are subject to numerous, and often quite detailed, requirements under federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations. These regulations are complex and subject to interpretation. Accordingly, we cannot ensure that we are always in compliance with all these requirements. The agencies responsible for the enforcement of these laws, rules and regulations may initiate inquiries or actions against us based on customer complaints or on their own initiative.

We cannot assure you that the FCC or any state or local agencies having jurisdiction over our business will not impose new or revised regulatory requirements, new or increased costs, or require changes in our current or planned operations. Indeed, the FCC has initiated a series of inquiries and rulemaking proceedings pertaining to the wireless industry that could result in material changes in the applicable rules and policies and may increase the regulation of the industry and increase our costs and limit our flexibility and ability to compete. The FCC has adopted an expansive view of the scope of its regulatory authority over wireless carriers which are licensed under Title III of the Communications Act which could enable the FCC to impose regulatory mandates in additional areas. The FCC and state regulatory agencies also are increasingly focused on the quality of service, customer disclosures, customer privacy, and customer support that wireless carriers provide and the FCC and several agencies have proposed or enacted new and potentially burdensome regulations in this area. Recently, several state commissions also took a proactive role in reviewing a major wireless merger transaction and this trend, if it continues, could subject such companies to additional state regulatory requirements in connection with such transactions. The Communications Act, from which the FCC obtains its authority, and state regulatory enabling legislation may be interpreted in a manner that imposes additional costs for compliance or be further amended in a manner that could be adverse to us. Further, with past and possible future changes in the party affiliation of the President of the United States and in the composition of Federal and state legislatures and regulatory commissions, there may be additional legislative or regulatory changes that affect our business. The FCC also may change its rules or make spectrum allocations in bands adjacent or proximate to those licensed to us, which could result in adverse consequences to our business, including harmful interference to our existing networks and spectrum. If, as a result of interference, our customers experience a significant increase in dropped calls or significantly degraded service, we could experience higher churn and we may have difficulty adding additional customers, which could have an adverse effect on our business, our financial condition and operating results. In addition, the interference may cause our networks to have reduced capacity, which may require us to incur additional costs of adding cell sites or DAS nodes and to spend additional capital or may limit our ability to serve our customers, limit our growth, or increase our churn. There can be no assurance that future regulatory, judicial or legislative activities will not have a material adverse effect on our operations, or that such regulators or third parties will not raise material issues with regard to our compliance or noncompliance with regulations applicable to us.

We also are subject, or potentially subject, to a number of additional federal, state, and local laws, rules, ordinances and requirements, including, but not limited to, common carrier obligations; universal service obligations; number portability requirements; number pooling rules; rules governing billing, subscriber privacy, subscriber personal information, and customer

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proprietary network information; tower lighting and painting; access to E911 and location accuracy requirements; roaming obligations; rules that require wireless service providers to configure their networks to facilitate electronic surveillance by law enforcement officials; rate averaging and integration requirements; emergency warning requirements; bill shock; rules governing spam, telemarketing and truth-in-billing; equal employment opportunity reporting requirements; tower siting, outage reporting; open Internet requirements; and rules requiring us to offer equipment and services that are accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities, among others. There are also pending proceedings including, but not limited to, proceedings exploring the imposition of various types of nondiscrimination and open access obligations on our handsets and networks; the prohibition of handset exclusivity; handset interoperability; the possible re-imposition of bright-line spectrum aggregation requirements; further regulation of special access used for wireless backhaul services; requirements relating to information to be provided to customers or information collected by us; allocation of additional spectrum for wireless services, including modifying rules related to use of existing spectrum for wireless use; among others. States may also seek additional authority from the FCC to regulate certain CMRS services if the FCC finds that CMRS services are the functional equivalent of local exchange services. As wireless substitution for local exchange services increases or the percent of the population which uses wireless devices increases, it may become more likely that CMRS services experience further regulation. Additionally, we may be subject to claims for violations of environmental law, regardless of fault, as a lessee or owner of any of our tower sites. Some of these requirements and pending proceedings, including without limitation those described above, pose technical and operational challenges to which we, and the industry as a whole, have not yet developed clear solutions and may require us to spend money to become in compliance. Further, these requirements generally are the subject of pending FCC, federal, state or local administrative or judicial proceedings, and we are unable to predict how they may affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Our business also is subject to various other regulations, including certain regulations promulgated by the Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Securities Exchange Commission, the Department of Labor, and other federal, state and local regulatory agencies and legislative bodies. Adverse decisions or regulations of these regulatory bodies could negatively impact our operations and costs of doing business. Because of our smaller size, relatively smaller resources, management structure, more limited spectrum holdings, concentration of operations in a few states in major metropolitan areas, and composition of our current and prospective customer base, governmental regulations and orders can disproportionately increase our costs, divert management attention, require us to change our process or management structure, and affect our competitive position compared to other larger telecommunications providers. For example, legislative and regulatory bodies have raised issues and concerns and proposed new legislation limiting the ability of American companies to use certain foreign vendors to supply equipment, materials and other services used in the operation of our business. Recently members of Congress and certain regulatory agencies have expressed concern with regard to the US trade imbalance with China, the alleged violations of intellectual property rights by Chinese companies and potential security risks purchasing equipment and software from Chinese companies. If new legislation or regulation is passed restricting the purchase of goods and services from certain countries, it could result in significant cost and the loss of certain economies of scale garnered from extensive negotiations. It could also limit our ability to have access to handsets and other subscriber equipment for prices our customers demand. We are unable to predict the scope, pace or financial impact of regulations and other policy changes that could be adopted by the various governmental entities that oversee portions of our business. As previously noted herein, a variety of changes in regulatory policies are under consideration and depending upon the outcomes, the changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

Compliance with current or future federal, state, or local laws, regulations, rules, and ordinances could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results, including but not limited to increasing our operating expenses or costs, requiring us to obtain new or additional authorizations or permits, requiring us to change our business and customer service processes, limiting our ability to attract and retain certain customer segments, decreasing our ability to compete or differentiate our services, increasing our costs and expenses to offer services, increasing the costs of our services to our customers, requiring system and network upgrades, requiring process, system or management structure changes, requiring greater transparency for our services and network management techniques, lengthening the time required to develop and deploy new services or products, increasing cost of insurance coverage, requiring us to hire additional employees, requiring us to spend significant additional capital, limiting the capacity of our networks, limiting the services we can offer our customers, and requiring us to change our business strategy and service plans. A failure to meet, or maintain compliance with, federal, state or local regulations, laws, rules or ordinances also could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results, including, but not limited to, subjecting us to fines, forfeitures, penalties, license revocations, or other sanctions, including the imposition of mandatory reporting requirements and corporate monitors, limitations on our ability to participate in future FCC auctions or acquisitions of spectrum, compliance programs and corporate monitors. In addition, a material failure to comply with regulations or statutory requirements may limit our ability to draw certain amounts under our senior secured credit facility or could result in a default under our senior secured credit facility or the indentures or

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supplemental indentures governing our senior notes, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

In addition, there have been several qui tam lawsuits against carriers in the telecommunications industry and, with the passage of federal legislation regarding whistleblowers, such lawsuits may increase. Qui tam lawsuits generally are filed under seal in the first instance and companies may not know that they are a target of such a lawsuit unless and until it is made public. The person bringing the suit may share in any recovery by the government, which encourages lawsuits of this kind. Certain wireless companies who have participated in spectrum auctions as designated entities have become the target of qui tam lawsuits claiming that those wireless companies have defrauded the United States Government by investing in “designated entities”, or DEs, taking bidding credits and otherwise receiving benefits in FCC spectrum auctions to which such wireless companies were not entitled. Another carrier has become the target of a qui tam lawsuit alleging irregularities in-state sales tax payments. Recent legislation also gives whistleblowers a potential financial stake in potential recoveries flowing from violations of securities or other laws. If we become the target of a qui tam lawsuit or whistleblower action, the resulting distraction to management and costs to defend may be material. If we become a target of a qui tam lawsuit and are found to have defrauded the government, the damages may include civil penalties of up to $11,000 for each claim, plus a penalty of three times the amount of the damages sustained by the government, and may include the revocation of any licenses held by us, that were granted as a result of such fraud. If we lost those licenses originally acquired by a DE or if we are required to repay the bidding credits they received, or to pay damages and civil penalties under a qui tam or whistleblower lawsuit, or an audit concluded that we had not complied with the DE requirements, it could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

New rules regarding net neutrality may have a material adverse effect on our business.

In 2010, the FCC enacted new “net neutrality” rules based on three core principles of (1) transparency, (2) no blocking, and (3) no unreasonable discrimination. Mobile broadband Internet providers, such as us, are subject to transparency disclosure requirements and a requirement that such carriers would not block access to lawful websites or applications that compete with such carriers voice or video telephony application. These rules became effective on November 20, 2011. These new rules will permit broadband service providers to exercise “reasonable network management” for legitimate management purposes, such as management of congestion, harmful traffic, and network security. The rules also permit usage-based billing, and permit broadband service providers to offer additional specialized services such as facilities-based IP voice services, without being subject to restrictions on discrimination. These rules are subject to interpretation and have not been applied by the FCC or reviewed by the courts. The rules have also been challenged before the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit by us and others, and we are unable to predict the outcome of these appeals. Prior to the effective date of such rules, we already have been the subject of third party challenges at the FCC to the manner in which we are configuring and managing our wireless broadband mobile Internet access services and network. These challenges, and others that might follow, could limit our ability to offer differentiated services, and to price our services to be competitive with other providers of broadband Internet access services. They have and could in the future subject us to negative publicity and damage to our reputation and good will, and could distract or divert the attention of management and resources of the company. These net neutrality rules will be enforced based on a case-by-case complaint basis and may adversely affect our business by limiting our ability to manage our customers' use of our network, requiring us to provide third party access to our networks on terms and conditions that jeopardize our flat-rate, unlimited usage pricing plans, constrain our ability to offer innovative differentiated services, could limit our ability to offer our services on a competitive basis with other providers, or require us to disclose information that may subject us to further litigation. Our ability to employ network management techniques, or to manage bandwidth-intensive applications or uses, may be impaired in a manner that reduces the quality of our services for all customers. The result could be a decline in the quality of our services. If any of these risks occur, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

General Matters

Our stock price has historically been, and may continue to be, volatile and you may lose all or some of your investment.

The trading prices of the securities of communications companies historically have been highly volatile. In particular, the trading price of our common stock has been, and is likely to be, subject to wide fluctuations. Our stock price may fluctuate in reaction to a number of events and factors that may include, among other things:

• actual or anticipated fluctuations in our or our competitors' operating and financial results;

• introduction of new products and services by us or our competitors or changes in service plans or pricing by us or our competitors;

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• analyst projections, predictions and forecasts, analyst target prices for our securities and changes in, or our failure to meet, securities analysts' expectations;

• entry of new competitors into our markets or perceptions of increased price competition, including a price war;

• our performance, including subscriber growth, and our financial and operational metric performance;

• concentration of offered services and assets in the U.S., in particular limited major metropolitan areas;

• changes in our credit rating or future prospects;

• disruptions of our operations or service providers necessary to our network operations;

• seasonal effects on, or other variations in, our customer base and our business metrics, including churn and net gains;

• market perceptions relating to our services, network, handsets and deployment of our 4G LTE platform and our access to iconic handsets, services, applications or content;

• our ability to develop and market new and enhanced products and services on a timely basis that are attractive to our customers or that meet our customer's expectations or demands;

• challenges to our intellectual property rights or claims that we infringe the intellectual property rights of others;

• pending or threatened litigation or regulatory investigations;

• adoption of or changes in governmental regulations and new accounting standards;

• conditions and trends in the communications and high technology markets;

• adverse publicity regarding our Company;

• announcements of, rumors of, predictions of, or the consummation of mergers, acquisitions, sales, strategic alliances or significant agreements, or resources of, or lack of, any of the foregoing, by us, about us, or by or about our competitors, including the current announcement regarding the transaction with T-Mobile;

• announcements by us or competitors of significant contracts, commercial relationships or capital commitments;

• announcement by us regarding the entering into, or termination of, material transactions or agreements;

• sales of our common stock by our directors, executive officers, affiliates, significant stockholders, or us;

• the amount of short interest in our securities;

• volatility in stock market prices and volumes, which is particularly common among securities of telecommunications companies;

• market perceptions of the wireless telecommunications industry and valuation models for us and the industry;

• the general state of the U.S. and world economies;

• the availability or perceived availability of additional capital in general and our access to such capital;

• availability of additional spectrum, whether by the announcement, commencement, bidding and closing of auctions for new spectrum or acquisitions of other businesses;

• recruitment or departure of key personnel, management or board members; and

• failure to timely file periodic reports or reports of material weaknesses in financial or disclosure controls.

In addition, the stock market has been generally volatile and has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations, which may continue for the foreseeable future. This volatility has had a significant impact on the trading price of securities issued by many companies, including companies in the communications industry. The trading price of our stock is volatile and has fallen significantly since our initial public offering. These changes frequently occur irrespective of the operating performance of the affected companies. Hence, the trading price of our common stock could fluctuate based upon factors that have little or nothing to do with our business, financial condition and operating results. The price volatility and continued decrease in our stock price could subject us to takeover bids, actions by the NYSE and possible losses for stockholders.

Your ownership interest could be diluted by future issuances of shares that our Board has the authority to issue, and such future issuances or sales of such shares may adversely affect the market price of MetroPCS' common stock.

We have registered all shares of common stock that we may issue under our equity incentive compensation plans; thus, when we issue shares under these plans, the shares generally can be freely sold in the public market subject to any requirements under the Securities Act. Our executive officers can establish sales plans to sell the securities they receive from these plans and several have such plans in place. We also have granted certain of our stockholders the right to require us to register their shares of our common stock. Our Articles of Incorporation currently allows us to have up to one billion shares of common stock outstanding which is substantially more than the number of shares of common stock currently outstanding. We also have filed a shelf registration statement with the SEC, which allows us to issue registered debt, equity and other securities, including common stock, preferred stock, debt securities and guarantees of debt securities, in addition to the amounts already outstanding. The securities registered under this universal shelf registration statement could be offered from time to time with little or no advance notice, separately or together, directly by us or through underwriters, at amounts, prices, interest rates and other terms and conditions to be determined at the time of any offering. In addition, in connection with any potential transaction we may agree to issue additional shares of common stock and, depending on the amount we issue, we may need shareholder approval. If we register, or propose to register, any additional securities under the Securities Act, for our own account, for the account of security holders exercising registration rights or otherwise, the number of shares subject to registration could

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increase and your interest could be significantly diluted and the sale of these shares may have a negative impact on the market price for our common stock. Further, the sale or issuance of a substantial amount of our common stock, or the possibility of such a sale, including sales by significant stockholders, directors, affiliates or executives of the Company, may reduce the market price of our common stock and could impede our ability to raise future capital through the issuance of equity securities at a time and at a price we deem appropriate.

If we fail to manage our planned growth effectively or maintain an effective system of internal controls over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud.

We have experienced rapid growth and development in a relatively short period of time and expect to continue to experience growth in the future. Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and effectively prevent fraud and to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC, collectively referred to as SOX. SOX requires us to furnish a report of management's assessment of the design and effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as part of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, and our management also is required to report on the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures. We regularly evaluate our internal controls, and our independent auditors annually attest to our internal controls over financial reporting in compliance with SOX. Material weaknesses could result in inaccurate financial statements or other disclosures or failure to prevent fraud. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or that the degree of compliance with the policies and procedures may deteriorate. If we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal controls, or to successfully remediate any material weaknesses in a timely manner, we may not comply with SOX and our independent auditors would be unable to certify as to the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting and our stock price could fall and we could be subject to investigations or sanctions by regulatory authorities or delisting from the NYSE. Further, any material weakness or failure of our internal controls, or the effectiveness of our internal controls, could result in a restatement of our financial statements which could also lead to a decline in our stock price. Inadequate internal controls also could harm our reputation, cause us to lose customers, or cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a negative effect on the trading price of our stock, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results. Any restatement of our financial statements could have adverse consequences, including the triggering of an event of default under our senior secured credit facility and the indentures and supplemental indentures governing our senior notes, our credit rating could be downgraded, which could result in an increase in our borrowing costs and make it more difficult to borrow funds on reasonable terms or at all, the NYSE could begin delisting proceedings, departure of key executives, and we could have stockholder litigation or SEC enforcement action, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the market price for our securities and on our business, financial condition and operating results.

The value of our FCC licenses may drop in the future as a result of volatility in the marketplace and the sale of additional spectrum by the FCC.

The market value of FCC licenses has been subject to significant volatility in the past and the value of our licenses may continue to fluctuate based on market conditions, the availability of spectrum, whether through consolidation in the industry, FCC regulatory action or auction, the availability of buyers and sellers, changes in our business plans, and the inability to ascertain the value of any license due to such volatility. The impact of the availability of spectrum from any future actions and auctions, or spectrum flexibility relief, on license values is uncertain. While the value of these licenses is determined using an income approach for purposes of our impairment testing, those values differ from what would ultimately be realized in a sales transaction, which could be material. Intangible assets are by their nature not readily saleable and could be subject to significant delays in their liquidation. There can be no assurance of the market value of our FCC licenses or that the market value of our FCC licenses will not be volatile in the future, whether as a result of consolidation in the industry, the sale of spectrum by one or more carriers, the flexibility of options allowed for spectrum not currently used for wireless mobile broadband services, change in our business plans, or an FCC auction. If the value of our licenses was to decline significantly, we could be forced to record non-cash impairment charges that could impact our ability to borrow additional funds. A significant impairment loss could have a material adverse effect on our net income and on the carrying value of our licenses on our balance sheet, which could have a material adverse effect on the market price for our securities and on our business, financial condition and operating results.

Declines in our operating performance could ultimately result in an impairment of our indefinite-lived assets, including FCC licenses, or our long-lived assets, including property and equipment.

We assess potential impairments to our long-lived assets, including property and equipment and certain intangible assets, when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. We assess potential impairments to indefinite-lived intangible assets, including FCC licenses, annually and when there is evidence that

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events or changes in circumstances indicate that an impairment condition may exist. The estimation of fair values or carrying values requires assumptions by management about factors that are highly uncertain and possibly volatile, including future cash flow, stock prices, discount rates and other factors. If adverse economic conditions, poor consumer confidence, reduced consumer spending, or volatile and decreasing stock prices, including our stock, continues for a period of time or we do not achieve our planned operating results, these factors may ultimately result in a non-cash impairment charge related to our long-lived assets and/or our indefinite-lived intangible assets. A significant impairment loss could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and on the carrying value of our FCC licenses and/or our long-lived assets on our balance sheet, which could have a material adverse effect on the market price for our securities and on our business, financial condition and operating results.

Changes in interpretations of accounting requirements, changes in industry practice or the identification of errors or changes in management assumptions could require amendments to or restatements of financial information or disclosures included in this or prior filings with the SEC.

We prepare our consolidated financial statement in accordance with GAAP and file such financial statements with the SEC in accordance with the SEC's rules and regulations. The preparation of financial statements requires our management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We base our estimates on historical experience, our perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other various assumptions and information that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances when made, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities. Actual results may differ from estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Changes in accounting requirements or in guidance or interpretations related to such requirements, changes in industry practice or the identification of errors or changes in estimates or assumptions could require restatements of financial information or amendments to disclosures included in this or prior filings with the SEC. For a discussion of our critical accounting policies, see “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” in Item 2 of this Quarterly Report and Item 7 of the Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2011. If future events or assumptions differ significantly from the judgments, assumptions and estimates in our critical accounting policies, these events or assumptions could have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Even with our current levels of indebtedness, we may incur additional indebtedness.

The terms of the agreements governing our long-term indebtedness, subject to specified limitations, allow for the incurrence of additional indebtedness by us and our subsidiaries. Although we have substantial indebtedness, we may still be able to incur significantly more debt under our senior secured credit facility and our indentures and supplemental indentures governing our senior notes, which could further reduce the cash we have available to invest in our operations as a result of our increased debt service obligations. In addition, the more leveraged we become, the more we, and in turn the holders of our securities, become exposed to the risks described above in the risk factor entitled “Our operations require continued capital expenditures and a failure to make such capital expenditures could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.”

In order to provide additional flexibility, we have filed a universal shelf registration statement with the SEC to register debt, equity and other securities, including common stock, preferred stock, debt securities and guarantees of debt securities. The securities registered under this universal shelf registration statement could be offered from time to time with little or no advance notice, separately or together, directly by us or through underwriters, at amounts, prices, interest rates and other terms and conditions to be determined at the time of any offering.

To service our debt, we will require a significant amount of cash, which may not be available to us.

Our ability to meet our existing or future debt obligations and to reduce our indebtedness will depend on our future performance and the other cash requirements of our business. Our performance, to a certain extent, is subject to general economic conditions, financial, competitive, business, political, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control. In addition, our ability to borrow funds in the future to make payment on our debt will depend on the satisfaction of covenants in our senior secured credit facility, the indentures and supplemental indentures governing our senior notes, other debt agreements and other agreements we may enter into in the future. Specifically, we will need to maintain certain financial ratios. We cannot assure you that we will continue to generate sufficient cash flow from operations at or above current levels or that future borrowings will be available to us under our senior secured credit facility or from other sources in an amount sufficient to enable us to service our debt or repay all of our indebtedness in a timely manner or on favorable or commercially reasonable terms, or at all. If we are unable to satisfy our financial covenants or generate sufficient cash to timely repay our debt, the lenders could accelerate the maturity of some or all of our outstanding indebtedness. As a result, we believe we may need to

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refinance all or a portion of our remaining existing indebtedness prior to its maturity. Disruptions in the financial markets or the general amount of debt refinancings occurring at the same time could make it more difficult to obtain debt or equity financing on reasonable terms or at all.

Our outstanding debt is subject to a change in control provision and in the event of a change in control we may not have the ability to raise the funds necessary to fulfill our obligations.

Under our indentures and supplemental indentures governing our senior notes and the terms of our Senior Secured Credit Facility, upon the occurrence of a change in control as defined therein which would include the transaction with T-Mobile contemplated in the Business Combination Agreement, if completed, we would be required to offer to repurchase all of our outstanding senior notes and repay our outstanding debt under our senior secured credit facility. Under our indentures and supplemental indentures governing our senior notes, if certain “change of control” events occur and we experience a downgrade of our credit rating within a specified period of time, each holder of notes may require us to repurchase all of such holder's notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest. We may not have sufficient access to funds at the time of the change in control event to make the required offer to repurchase or pay down our outstanding debt. Additionally, a default under the indentures and supplemental indentures governing our senior notes would result in a default under our Senior Secured Credit Facility. Any failure to make or complete a change in control offer would place us in default under our indentures and Senior Secured Credit Facility.

Our Senior Secured Credit Facility and the indentures and supplemental indentures governing our senior notes include restrictive covenants that limit our operating flexibility.

Our Senior Secured Credit Facility and indentures and supplemental indentures governing our senior notes impose material operating and financial restrictions on us. These restrictions, subject in certain cases to ordinary course of business and other exceptions, may limit our ability to engage in some transactions, including the following:

• incurring additional debt;

• paying dividends, redeeming capital stock or making other restricted payments or investments;

• selling or buying assets, properties or licenses;

• developing assets, properties or licenses which we have or in the future may procure;

• creating liens on assets;

• participating in future FCC auctions of spectrum or private sales of spectrum;

• engaging in mergers, acquisitions, business combinations, or other transactions such as the T-Mobile transaction;

• merging, consolidating or disposing of assets;

• entering into transactions with affiliates; and

• placing restrictions on the ability of subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other payments.

These restrictions could limit our ability to obtain debt financing, repurchase stock, refinance or pay principal on our outstanding debt, complete acquisitions for cash or debt or react to changes in our operating environment or the economy. Any future debt that we incur may contain similar or more restrictive covenants.

Any failure to comply with the restrictions of the Senior Secured Credit Facility or the indentures or supplemental indentures governing our senior notes, or certain current and any subsequent financing agreements may result in an event of default under these agreements, which in turn may result in defaults or acceleration of obligations under these agreements and other agreements, giving our lenders the right to terminate any commitments they had made to provide us with further funds and to require us to repay all amounts then outstanding.

Our substantial indebtedness could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results and our senior creditors would have a prior secured claim to any collateral securing the debt owed to them.

Our ability to make payments on our debt, to repay our existing indebtedness when due, and to fund operations and significant planned capital expenditures will depend on our ability to generate cash in the future. Our ability to produce cash from operations is subject to a number of risks, including:

• introduction of new products and services by us or our competitors, changes in service plans or pricing by us or our competitors, or promotional offers;

• our ability to maintain our current cost structure; and

• our ability to continue to grow our customer base and maintain our projected levels of churn.

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Our substantial debt service obligations could have important material consequences to you, including the following:

• limiting our ability to borrow money or sell stock to fund working capital, capital expenditures, debt service requirements, acquisitions, technological initiatives and other general corporate purposes;

• making it more difficult for us to make payments on our indebtedness;

• increasing our vulnerability to competition, general economic downturns and industry conditions and limiting our ability to withstand competitive pressure;

• limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business or the communications industry;

• limiting our ability to increase our capital expenditures to roll out new services or to upgrade our networks to new technologies;

• limiting our ability to purchase additional spectrum or develop new metropolitan areas in the future;

• reducing the amount of cash available for working capital needs, capital expenditures for existing and new markets and other corporate purposes by requiring us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to the payment of principal of, and interest on, our indebtedness; and

• placing us at a competitive disadvantage to our competitors who are less leveraged than we are.

Any of these risks could impair our ability to fund our operations, limit our ability to obtain additional spectrum, or limit our ability to expand our business as planned, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and operating results. In addition, a substantial portion of our debt, including borrowings under our senior secured credit facility, bears interest at variable rates. If market interest rates increase, variable-rate debt will create higher debt service requirements, which could adversely affect our cash flow. While we have and may enter into agreements limiting our exposure to higher interest rates in the future, any such agreements may not offer complete protection from this risk, and any portion not subject to such agreements would have full exposure to higher interest rates.

Settlements, judgments, restraints on our current or future manner of doing business or legal costs resulting from pending or future litigation could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and operating results.

We are regularly involved in a number of legal proceedings before various state and federal courts, the FCC, and state and local regulatory agencies. Such legal proceedings can be complex, costly, protracted and highly disruptive to business operations by diverting the attention and energies of management and other key personnel. Also, changes in the law or legal interpretations can affect the outcome of existing rules. The assessment of the outcome of legal proceedings, including our potential liability, if any, is a highly subjective process that requires judgments about future events that are not within our control. The outcome of litigation, including amounts ultimately received or paid upon settlement or other resolution of

litigation and other contingencies, may differ materially from amounts accrued in the financial statements. In addition, litigation or similar proceedings could impose restraints on our current or future manner of doing business. Further, litigation could be costly to defend, divert management's attention from our business, and could subject us to substantial liability. Such potential outcomes could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, operating results, or ability to do business. Further, while we believe that any losses in excess of the amounts we accrue for such potential liability are remote, as litigation is uncertain and any outcome thereof is uncertain, there is the potential for a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results as a result of one or more proceedings being resolved in a particular period in an amount in excess of that accrued by us.

A portion of the voting power of our common stock is concentrated in limited number of stockholders, and their interests may be different from yours.

A certain portion of the voting power of our capital stock is concentrated in the hands of a few stockholders, some of which also have representatives who are members of our board of directors. As a result, if such persons act together, they may have the ability to significantly influence whether required consents can be obtained and may have substantial control over matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, including the election and removal of directors, changes in our capital structure, governance, stockholder approvals and the approval of any merger, consolidation or sales of all or substantially all of our assets. These stockholders may have different interests than the other holders of our common stock and may make decisions that are adverse to your interests.

Our stockholder rights plan could prevent a change in control of our Company in instances in which some stockholders may believe a change in control is in their best interests.

We have a stockholder rights plan, or Rights Plan. Pursuant to the Rights Plan, we have issued to our stockholders one preferred stock purchase right for each outstanding share of our common stock as of March 27, 2007. Each right, when exercisable, will entitle its holder to purchase from us a unit consisting of one one-thousandth of a share of series A junior

75

participating preferred stock at $66.67 per share. Our Rights Plan is intended to protect stockholders in the event of an unfair or coercive offer to acquire our Company and to provide our board of directors with adequate time to evaluate unsolicited offers. The Rights Plan may prevent or make takeovers or unsolicited corporate transactions more difficult. The Rights Plan will cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire us on terms that our board of directors does not believe are in our best interests and those of our stockholders and may discourage, delay or prevent a merger or acquisition that stockholders may consider favorable, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares.

Conflicts of interest may arise because some of our directors are principals of our stockholders, and we have waived our rights to certain corporate opportunities.

Our board of directors includes representatives of certain of our significant stockholders. Those stockholders and their respective affiliates may invest in entities that directly or indirectly compete with us, companies in which we transact business, or companies in which they are currently invested may already compete with us. As a result of these relationships, when conflicts between the interests of those stockholders or their respective affiliates and the interests of our other stockholders arise, these directors may not be disinterested. Under Delaware law, transactions that we enter into in which a director or officer has a conflict of interest are generally permissible so long as (1) the material facts relating to the director's or officer's relationship or interest as to the transaction are disclosed to our board of directors and a majority of our disinterested directors approves the transaction, (2) the material facts relating to the director's or officer's relationship or interest as to the transaction are disclosed to our stockholders and a majority of our disinterested stockholders approves the transaction, or (3) the transaction is otherwise fair to us. Also, pursuant to the terms of our certificate of incorporation, our non-employee directors are not required to offer us any corporate opportunity of which they become aware and could take any such opportunity for themselves or offer it to other companies in which they have an investment, unless such opportunity is expressly offered to them in their capacity as a director of our Company.

Our certificate of incorporation, bylaws and Delaware corporate law contain provisions that could delay or prevent a change in control even if the change in control would be beneficial to our stockholders.

Delaware law, as well as our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, contains provisions that could delay or prevent a change in control of our Company, even if it were beneficial to our stockholders to do so. These provisions also could limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock. These provisions:

• authorize the issuance of preferred stock that can be created and issued by the board of directors without prior stockholder approval to increase the number of outstanding shares and deter or prevent a takeover attempt;

• prohibit stockholder action by written consent, requiring all stockholder actions to be taken at a meeting of our stockholders;

• require stockholder meetings to be called only by the President or at the written request of a majority of the directors then in office and not the stockholders;

• prohibit cumulative voting in the election of directors, which would otherwise allow less than a majority of stockholders to elect director candidates;

• provide that our board of directors is divided into three classes, each serving three-year terms; and

• establish advance notice requirements for nominations for election to the board of directors or for proposing matters that can be acted upon by stockholders at stockholder meetings.

In addition, Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law imposes restrictions on business combinations such as mergers between us and a holder of 15% or more of our voting stock.

Any of the foregoing events or other events could cause revenues, customer additions, operating income, capital expenditures and other financial or statistical information to vary from our forward-looking estimates by a material amount.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Share Repurchases

The following table provides information about shares acquired from employees during the third quarter of 2012 as payment of withholding taxes in connection with the vesting of restricted stock:

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Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Period	Total Number of Shares Purchased During Period	Average Price Paid Per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs	Maximum Number of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
July 1 – July 31	7,884	$	6.56	—	—
August 1 - August 31	42,314	$	9.48	—	—
September 1 – September 30	41,815	$	9.88	—	—
Total	92,013	$	9.41	—	—

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

None.

Item 5. Other Information

None.

Item 6. Exhibits

Exhibit Number	Description
2.1*	Business Combination Agreement, by and among Deutsche Telekom AG, T-Mobile USA, Inc., T-Mobile Global Zwischenholding GmbH, T-Mobile Global Holding GmbH and MetroPCS Communications, Inc., dated October 3, 2012 (Filed as Exhibit 2.1 to MetroPCS Communications, Inc.'s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 3, 2012, and incorporated by reference herein).
4.1*	Amendment No. 1 to the Rights Agreement, between MetroPCS Communications, Inc. and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to MetroPCS Communications, Inc.'s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 3, 2012, and incorporated by reference herein).
10.1	Form Change in Control Agreement Amendment
10.2	Form Amendment to the [Non-Employee Director][Employee] Restricted Stock Grant Agreement
10.3	Employee Restricted Stock Grant Agreement Pursuant to the Terms of the MetroPCS Communications, Inc. 2010 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan
10.4	Officer Annual Cash Performance Award Agreement
31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C., Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Pursuant to SEC Release 34-47551, this Exhibit is furnished to the SEC and shall not be deemed to be “filed.”
32.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C., Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Pursuant to SEC Release 34-47551, this Exhibit is furnished to the SEC and shall not be deemed to be “filed.”
101	XBRL Instance Document.

————————————

* Incorporated by Reference

77

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

	METROPCS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Date: October 30, 2012	By:	/s/ Roger D. Linquist
		Roger D. Linquist Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
Date: October 30, 2012	By:	/s/ J. Braxton Carter
		J. Braxton Carter Chief Financial Officer and Vice Chairman

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit Number	Description
2.1*	Business Combination Agreement, by and among Deutsche Telekom AG, T-Mobile USA, Inc., T-Mobile Global Zwischenholding GmbH, T-Mobile Global Holding GmbH and MetroPCS Communications, Inc., dated October 3, 2012 (Filed as Exhibit 2.1 to MetroPCS Communications, Inc.'s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 3, 2012, and incorporated by reference herein).
4.1*	Amendment No. 1 to the Rights Agreement, between MetroPCS Communications, Inc. and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to MetroPCS Communications, Inc.'s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 3, 2012, and incorporated by reference herein).
10.1	Form Change in Control Agreement Amendment
10.2	Form Amendment to the [Non-Employee Director][Employee] Restricted Stock Grant Agreement
10.3	Employee Restricted Stock Grant Agreement Pursuant to the Terms of the MetroPCS Communications, Inc. 2010 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan
10.4	Officer Annual Cash Performance Award Agreement
31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C., Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Pursuant to SEC Release 34-47551, this Exhibit is furnished to the SEC and shall not be deemed to be “filed.”
32.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C., Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Pursuant to SEC Release 34-47551, this Exhibit is furnished to the SEC and shall not be deemed to be “filed.”
101	XBRL Instance Document.

————————————

* Incorporated by Reference

EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT AMENDMENT

THIS AMENDMENT to the Change in Control Agreement (the “Agreement”) entered into effective as of _____________ by and between MetroPCS Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and _______________ (the “Employee”), is adopted and agreed to by the Company and the Employee effective as of September 27, 2012. Any capitalized term used herein not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in the Agreement.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Employee and the Company entered into the Agreement to encourage the Employee's continued attention and dedication to the Employee's assigned duties in the event of a Change in Control of the Company; and

WHEREAS, the Employee and the Company desire to amend the Agreement regarding the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, to the payments and benefits under the Agreement;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and other valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Employee and the Company, intending to be legally bound, hereby amend the Agreement by adding a new paragraph to the end of Section 6 thereof as follows:

(p) Section 280G Cutback. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any amount or benefit to be paid or provided under this Agreement, together with any payments or benefits payable or to be provided under any other plan, program, arrangement or agreement maintained by the Company or an Affiliate, would be deemed or considered to be an “excess parachute payment” (within the meaning of section 280G of the Code, or any successor provision thereto) but for the application of this sentence, then the payments and benefits to be paid or provided under this Agreement will be reduced to the minimum extent necessary (but in no event to less than zero) so that no portion of any such payment or benefit, as so reduced, constitutes or would constitute an excess parachute payment. Whether requested by the Employee or the Company, the determination of whether any reduction in such payments or benefits to be provided under this Agreement or otherwise is required pursuant to the preceding sentence (and the assumptions utilized to make such determination) will be made at the expense of the Company by the Company's independent accountants, whose judgment shall be conclusive, final and binding. In the event that any payment or benefit intended to be provided under this Agreement is required to be reduced pursuant to this Section 6(p), the Company will determine the order in which such reduction in payments and/or benefits will be made.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Employee and the Company have adopted this Amendment to the Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

METROPCS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.	EMPLOYEE
Name (print):	Name (print):
Title:

EX-10.2

Exhibit 10.2

AMENDMENT TO THE [NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR] [EMPLOYEE]

RESTRICTED STOCK GRANT AGREEMENT

This Amendment (the “Amendment”), effective as of __________, 2012 (the “Effective Date”), is by and between MetroPCS Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and ______________ (“Grantee”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the Company has adopted that certain Amended and Restated MetroPCS Communications, Inc. 2004 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2004 Plan”) and that certain MetroPCS Communications, Inc. 2010 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2010 Plan,” together with the 2004 Plan, the “Plans”);

WHEREAS, the Company has made one or more awards of restricted common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Restricted Stock”), to Grantee under the Plan (individually, each an “Award,” collectively, the “Awards”);

WHEREAS, in connection with the Awards, the Company and Grantee have entered into one or more MetroPCS Communications, Inc. [Employee][Non-Employee Director] Restricted Stock Grant Agreements pursuant to the terms of the Plans prior to the Effective Date, as amended (as such Agreements may have been amended prior to the Effective Date, each individually, an “Agreement,” collectively the “Agreements”);

WHEREAS, Section 6(e) of each Agreement currently provides that dividend payments related to shares of unvested Restricted Stock shall be forfeited to the Company without payment to Grantee;

WHEREAS, the Company has determined that it would be in the best interest of the Company, its stockholders and Grantee to amend the Agreements to provide that Grantee shall be entitled to retain certain extraordinary dividends or cash payments related to shares of unvested Restricted Stock; and

WHEREAS, the Company and Grantee desire to amend the Agreements to reflect the amendment regarding extraordinary dividends or cash payments described above.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and certain other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

1. Any capitalized term used herein, and not otherwise defined herein, shall have the meaning set forth in the Agreements or the respective Plan attributable to each such Agreement.

2.Amendment to Section 6(e). Section 6(e) of each Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and the following new provision is substituted therefor:

“(e)By accepting the Restricted Stock, Grantee acknowledges his or her understanding and agreement that solely during the period prior to the vesting of a share of Restricted Stock, (i) each time the holders of Common Stock of record of the Company are requested to vote on any issue, Grantee shall vote, and Grantee authorizes the Company to vote, such unvested share of Restricted

Stock “For,” “Against” or “Abstention” in the exact proportion to the “For,” “Against” or “Abstention” votes that resulted from the applicable vote prior to taking into consideration the votes of the unvested Restricted Stock; and (ii) in the event dividends, other than those declared to be extraordinary dividends or cash payments (including, but not limited to, extraordinary dividends or cash payments declared in connection with a Change of Control (as defined in the aforementioned Plan), recapitalization or other extraordinary transaction) are declared by the Board, each such non-extraordinary dividend payment related to such unvested share of Restricted Stock shall be forfeited to the Company without payment to Grantee. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, (i) such proportionate voting requirements and non-extraordinary dividend forfeitures shall lapse immediately on each share of Restricted Stock as it vests in accordance with Sections 2, 3 or 4 of this Agreement, as applicable, and (ii) in the event dividends are designated by the Board at the time they are declared by the Board to constitute extraordinary dividends, or the Board authorizes a non-dividend cash payment (including, but not limited to, extraordinary dividends or a cash payment made in connection with a Change of Control, recapitalization or other extraordinary transaction), such extraordinary dividends or cash payments on unvested shares of Restricted Stock shall not be forfeited to the Company and shall be paid to and may be retained by Grantee.”

3. Amendment to Section 17 of the Employee Agreement and Section 16 of the Non-Employee Director Agreement. Section 17 of each Employee Agreement and Section 16 of each Non-Employee Director Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and the following new provision is substituted therefor:

“Governing Law. The Restricted Stock and this Agreement will be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware to the extent federal law does not supersede and preempt Delaware law. The obligation of the Company to deliver Common Stock hereunder is subject to all applicable laws and to the approval of any governmental authority required in connection with the authorization, issuance, sale or delivery of such Common Stock.”

4.Continuing Effect. Except as may have been previously amended and as expressly amended hereby, all terms and conditions of the Agreements will remain unmodified and in full force and effect and are incorporated herein as if set forth herein in their entirety.

5.Governing Law. The Amendment will be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware to the extent federal law does not supersede and preempt Delaware law.

6.Counterparts.The Amendment may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but both of which taken together shall constitute one in the same instrument.

Executed this _____ day of ______________, 2012.

METROPCS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

By:

Its:

You, as the above named Grantee, are not required to take any further action to accept the terms and conditions of the Amendment. If you, as Grantee, desire to accept the Amendment, subject to the terms and provisions hereof and the respective Plan and administrative interpretations of such Plan referred to herein, simply retain a copy of the Amendment for your records, and you shall be DEEMED to have ACCEPTED the Amendment and you shall be DEEMED to become a party to the Amendment, being bound to its terms and conditions.

If you DO NOT WISH TO ACCEPT the Amendment, you must provide written notice of your desire to reject the Amendment within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the Amendment and such written notice must be signed and dated. Please send such written notice to Stock Plan Administration, at 2250 Lakeside Blvd., Richardson, Texas, 75082, Attention: Kim Butzke. Again you MUST RETURN your written notice of rejection of the Amendment WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS of receipt of the Amendment in order to be effective.

EX-10.3

Exhibit 10.3

EMPLOYEE RESTRICTED STOCK GRANT AGREEMENT

PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF THE

METROPCS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

2010 EQUITY INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

THIS EMPLOYEE RESTRICTED STOCK GRANT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), effective as of ________ (the “Grant Date”), is by and between MetroPCS Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and [First Name, Middle Name, and Last Name] (the “Grantee”).

1.Grant of Restricted Stock.

(a)The Company grants to Grantee ____________ restricted shares (“Restricted Stock”) of the Company's common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), with a grant date effective as of the Grant Date specified above.

(b)The Restricted Stock is granted pursuant to, and implemented in part by, the MetroPCS Communications, Inc. 2010 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan, as it may be further amended and in effect from time to time (the “2010 Plan”), and is subject to the provisions of the 2010 Plan, which is incorporated by reference into and made a part of this Agreement in its entirety, and administrative interpretations thereunder, if any, adopted by the Company's Compensation Committee, as well as the provisions of this Agreement.

(c)The Restricted Stock, on and after the Grant Date, unless and until such Restricted Stock is forfeited to or cancelled by the Company, will have all of the rights and privileges of a holder of Common Stock of record of the Company with respect to such Restricted Stock, including all voting and dividend rights, stock split rights, and other rights and privileges available under the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, and applicable law, and will be subject only to such restrictions as are applicable to the Restricted Stock under this Agreement, including Section 6(e) hereof, and under the 2010 Plan.

(d)By acceptance of this Restricted Stock, Grantee agrees to be bound by all the terms, conditions, and limitations of both this Agreement and the 2010 Plan, as implemented by this Agreement. In the event of a conflict between this Agreement and the 2010 Plan, the 2010 Plan shall control.

(e)All capitalized terms have the meanings set forth in the 2010 Plan unless otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement. All references to specified “Sections” pertain to sections of this Agreement unless otherwise provided.

2.Vesting.

(a)Vesting of the Restricted Stock shall be measured from the Grant Date (the “Vesting Commencement Date”).

(b)Unless accelerated as provided in Section 4 of this Agreement, the Restricted Stock subject to this Agreement shall vest as set forth below. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no portion of the Restricted Stock will vest after Grantee's cessation of service with the Company. Partial shares of Restricted Stock will not vest.

The Restricted Stock shall vest in installments in accordance with the following schedule:

Vesting Dates	Percentage of Restricted Stock Vested on Such Vesting Date
Vesting Commencement Date	—%
12-month anniversary of Vesting Commencement Date	25%
Following the 12-month anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date, each quarterly anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date for 12 successive quarters	6.25%

(c)Except as provided in Section 8(a) hereof, the Restricted Stock may be sold, transferred, alienated, pledged or hypothecated only to the extent that, and only after, the Restricted Stock has vested. The Restricted Stock is also restricted in the sense that the Restricted Stock may be forfeited to the Company; in the event that the Restricted Stock is forfeited to the Company as provided in Section 3 of this Agreement, the Company shall have the right to deliver the Restricted Stock to the Company's transfer agent for, at the Company's election, cancellation or transfer to the Company. The Restricted Stock will become fully vested, transferable, and saleable upon the occurrence of a Change of Control as provided in Section 4.

3.Termination of Employment; Retirement; Death; Disability.

(a)Upon a termination of Grantee's employment for Retirement, death or Disability, or for any other reason, the Grantee's rights to the Restricted Stock will be governed by the terms of Section 10.11 of the 2010 Plan, including that upon a termination of Grantee's employment for death, Retirement or Disability, or for any other reason, (i) all unvested shares of Restricted Stock will be immediately forfeited to the Company and (ii) Grantee will retain ownership of all vested shares of Restricted Stock.

(b)Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, in the event that any inconsistency between this Section 3 and any employment agreement entered into by and between Grantee and the Company, the terms of the employment agreement will control.

(c)Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the vesting of Restricted Stock for a Grantee who is on military, sick leave or other bona fide leave of absence will be governed by Section 1.6 of the 2010 Plan.

4.Change of Control.

(a)Notwithstanding the vesting schedule noted above in Section 2, in the event that a Change of Control occurs, as defined in Section 1.2 of the 2010 Plan, as provided in Section 10.12(a) of the 2010 Plan all restrictions and conditions on the Restricted Stock then outstanding shall be deemed satisfied in full, and any restriction period or other limitations on payment in full with respect to the Restricted Stock shall be deemed to have expired as of the date of the Change of Control, and the Restricted Stock shall become fully vested, transferable, and saleable.

(b)If approved by the Board prior to or within thirty (30) days after such time as a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred, the Board shall have the right for a forty-five (45) day period beginning on the date the Change in Control is deemed to have occurred to require Grantee to transfer and deliver to the Company all Restricted Stock previously granted to Grantee in exchange for an amount equal to the “cash value” (defined below) of the Restricted Stock. Such right shall be exercised by written notice to the Grantee. The cash value of the Restricted Stock shall equal the sum of (i) all cash to which the Grantee would be entitled upon settlement of the Restricted Stock which is a Full Value Award (determined by reference to the applicable Change of Control transactions described below in (A) - (E) of this Subsection) and (ii) in the case of any Restricted Stock that is not a Full Value Award, the excess of the “market value” (determined by reference to the applicable Change of Control transactions described below in (A) - (E)) per share over the exercise price, if any, multiplied by the number of shares subject to such Restricted Stock. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the “cash value” due to the Grantee or the “market value” per share shall be determined according to one of the following clauses, whichever is determined by the Committee to be most applicable to the Change in Control in question: (A) the price per share of Common Stock offered to holders of Common Stock in any merger or consolidation; (B) the per share Fair Market Value of the Common Stock immediately before the Change in Control without regard to assets sold in the Change in Control and assuming the Company has received the consideration paid for the assets in the case of a sale of the assets; (C) the average of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on each of the five (5) trading days immediately following the date a Change in Control is deemed to have occurred, (D) the price per share offered to holders of Common Stock in any tender offer or exchange offer whereby a Change in Control takes place; or (E) if such Change in Control occurs other than pursuant to a transaction described in clauses (A), (B), (C), or (D) above, the Fair Market Value per share of the shares that may otherwise be obtained with respect to such Restricted Stock or to which such Restricted Stock track, as determined by the Committee as of the date determined by the Committee to be the date of cancellation and surrender of such Restricted Stock. The amount payable to the Grantee by the Company shall be in cash or by certified check and shall be reduced by any taxes required to be withheld. In the event that the consideration offered to holders of the Company's Common Stock as a result of a Change of Control consists of anything other than cash, the Committee shall determine the fair cash equivalent of the portion of the consideration offered which is other than cash and such determination shall be binding on the Grantee to the extent applicable to the Restricted Stock held by such Grantee.

5.Reorganization of Company and Subsidiaries. The existence of the Restricted Stock will not affect in any way the right or power of the Company or its stockholders to make or authorize any or all adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations or other changes in the Company's capital structure or its business, or any merger or consolidation of the Company or any issue of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stock ahead of or affecting the Shares or the rights thereof, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.

6.Certain Restrictions.

(a)The Committee, in its sole discretion, may issue a separate certificate for the Restricted Stock subject to the restrictions applicable to the Restricted Stock, which certificate will contain an appropriate legend describing such restrictions, and/or may establish an escrow or other custodial arrangement for holding of the certificate by a person (other than Grantee) selected by the Committee. The Grantee may be required to execute a stock power endorsed in blank until such time as the restrictions on the Restricted Stock have lapsed.

(b)By accepting the Restricted Stock, Grantee agrees that at the time of receipt the Restricted Stock may not be covered by an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), in which case Grantee will acquire the Restricted Stock for Grantee's own account and without a view to resell or distribute in violation of the Act or any other securities law, and upon any such acquisition, Grantee will enter into such written representations, warranties and agreements as the Company may reasonably require in order to comply with the Act or any other securities law or with this Agreement. Grantee agrees that Company shall not be obligated to take any affirmative action in order to cause the issuance or transfer of Restricted Stock hereunder to comply with any law, rule or regulation that applies to the Restricted Stock.

(c)By accepting the Restricted Stock, Grantee agrees to comply with any applicable restrictions imposed by the Act, including restrictions imposed by Rule 144 as promulgated under the Act, as amended from time to time.

(d)By accepting the Restricted Stock, Grantee agrees to comply with the Company's Policy on the Prevention of Insider Trading and Misuse of Confidential Information of MetroPCS Communications, Inc. and its Subsidiaries (the “Insider Trading Policy”) with respect to dispositions of the Restricted Stock, as in effect from time to time.

(e)By accepting the Restricted Stock, Grantee acknowledges his or her understanding and agreement that solely during the period prior to the vesting of a share of Restricted Stock, (i) each time the holders of Common Stock of record of the Company are requested to vote on any issue, Grantee shall vote, and Grantee authorizes the Company to vote, such unvested share of Restricted Stock “For,” “Against” or “Abstention” in the exact proportion to the “For,” “Against” or “Abstention” votes that resulted from the applicable vote prior to taking into consideration the votes of the unvested Restricted Stock; and (ii) in the event dividends, other than those declared to be extraordinary dividends (including, but not limited to, extraordinary dividends declared in connection with a Change of Control (as defined in the aforementioned Plan), recapitalization or other extraordinary transaction) are declared by the Board, each such non-extraordinary dividend payment related to such unvested share of Restricted Stock shall be forfeited to the Company without payment to Grantee. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, (i) such proportionate voting requirements and non-extraordinary dividend forfeitures shall lapse immediately on each share of Restricted Stock as it vests in accordance with Sections 2, 3 or 4 of this Agreement, as applicable, and (ii) in the event dividends are designated by the Board at the time they are declared by the Board to constitute extraordinary dividends (including, but not limited to, extraordinary dividends in connection with a Change of Control, recapitalization or other extraordinary transaction), such extraordinary dividends on unvested shares of Restricted Stock shall not be forfeited to the Company and shall be paid to and may be retained by Grantee.

7.Delivery of Stock. Pursuant to Section 10.5 of the 2010 Plan and subject to withholding requirements of Article X of the 2010 Plan, at the expiration of the Restricted Period, the Restricted Stock shall be shown in book entry form (to the nearest full share) with respect to which the Restriction Period has expired held by the Grantee free and clear of any restrictions relative to the 2010 Plan. In addition, if requested by the Grantee, the Company will deliver to the Grantee a stock certificate evidencing the Restricted Stock (to the nearest full share) with respect to which the Restricted Period has expired without charge to the Grantee, or his personal representative free of all restrictions under the 2010 Plan. The value of such Restricted Stock shall not bear any interest owing to the passage of time. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the issuance of Common Stock will be subject to compliance with all applicable requirements of federal, state or foreign law with respect to such securities and with the requirements of any stock exchange or market system upon which the Common Stock may then be listed.

8.Nontransferability of Unvested Shares.

(a)The unvested Restricted Stock granted pursuant to this document is not transferable other than in accordance with Section 10.8 of the 2010 Plan.

(b)Upon any such transfer of unvested Restricted Stock, the terms applicable to the Grantee, including but not limited to Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 8 of this Agreement, will be equally applicable to the transferee.

(c)No right or benefit hereunder will in any manner be liable for or subject to any debts, contracts, liabilities, or torts of the Grantee or of a subsequent transferee.

(d)The Committee may also impose on the transferred Restricted Stock additional terms and conditions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee, including, but not limited to, such written representations, if any, concerning the holder's intentions with regard to the retention or disposition of the unvested Restricted Stock being acquired and such written covenants and agreements, if any, as to the manner of disposal of such unvested Restricted Stock as, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, may be necessary to ensure that any disposition by that holder (or in the event of the holder's death, his legal representatives, heirs, legatees, or distributees) will not involve a violation of the Act or any similar or superseding statute or statutes, any other applicable state or federal statute or regulation, or any rule of any applicable securities exchange or securities association, as then in effect.

(e)Such terms and conditions will be set forth in such documents issued to the transferee as the Committee may deem appropriate.

(f)The Committee may establish procedures pursuant to which such assignments will be accomplished.

9.Amendment and Termination. Neither the Board nor the Committee may terminate the Restricted Stock without the written consent of the Grantee, and no amendment or termination of the Restricted Stock may adversely affect the rights, privileges or benefits of the Grantee under this Agreement without the written consent of the Grantee; provided, however, that the restrictions of this Section 9 shall not apply to the extent that applicable legal or securities requirements may so require an action that is otherwise prohibited by this Section 9.

10.No Guarantee of Employment. The Restricted Stock does not confer on the Grantee any right with respect to employment or other service with the Company or any of its Affiliates, nor does it interfere in any way with any right the Company or any of its Affiliates would otherwise have to terminate Grantee's employment at any time.

11.Withholding of Taxes. Grantee is liable for any and all taxes, including withholding taxes, arising out of this grant or the vesting of Restricted Stock hereunder. Grantee agrees to pay to the Company any federal, state, or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld and remitted by the Company with respect to the Restricted Stock. The Grantee may satisfy such tax obligation, in whole or in part, by (i) paying the Company any tax withholding amounts on or before the Restricted Stock vests, (ii) electing to have the Company withhold a portion of the Restricted Stock otherwise to be delivered upon vesting of the Restricted Stock with a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such minimum tax withholding, or (iii) delivering to the Company other shares of common stock of the Company with a Fair Market Value equal

to the amount of such minimum tax withholding. The election, if any, must be made on or before the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is determined. If the Grantee does not make such payment to the Company or elect to have the Company withhold a portion of the Restricted Stock to satisfy such withholding obligations prior to the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is determined, the Company shall have the right to withhold from any payment of any kind otherwise due, or Restricted Stock to be delivered, to the Grantee from the Company, any federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to the award or vesting of the Restricted Stock.

12.No Guarantee or Liability. Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates nor the Board or Committee makes any commitment or guarantee that:

(a)any federal or state tax treatment will apply or be available to any person eligible for the Restricted Stock; or

(b)the Common Stock will not suffer from loss or depreciation.

The Company, its Affiliates, the Board and the Committee shall not be liable for any act, omission or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to this Agreement or the Restricted Stock granted hereunder.

13.Execution of Receipts and Releases. Any payment of cash or any issuance or transfer of shares of Common Stock or other property to Grantee, or to Grantee's legal representative, heir, legatee or distributee, in accordance with the provisions hereof, shall, to the extent thereof, be in full satisfaction of all claims of such persons hereunder. The Company may require Grantee or Grantee's legal representative, heir, legatee or distributee, as a condition precedent to such payment or issuance, to execute a release and receipt therefor in such form as it shall determine.

14.Notice and Waiver. All notices to the Company required or permitted under this Agreement must be in writing and personally delivered or sent by mail and shall be deemed to be delivered on the date on which it is actually received by the person to whom it is properly addressed or if earlier the date it is sent via certified United States mail. Any person entitled to notice hereunder may waive such notice in writing.

15.Confidential Information. As partial consideration for the granting of the Restricted Stock hereunder, Grantee hereby agrees to keep confidential all information and knowledge, except that which has been disclosed in any public filings required by law, that Grantee has relating to the terms and conditions of this Agreement; provided, however, that such information may be disclosed as required by law and may be given in confidence to Grantee's spouse and tax and financial advisors. In the event any breach of this promise comes to the attention of the Company, it shall take into consideration that breach in determining whether to recommend the grant of any future similar award to Grantee, as a factor weighing against the advisability of granting any such future award to Grantee.

16.Severability. In the event that any provision of the Restricted Stock or this Agreement is held illegal, invalid or unenforceable for any reason, such provision will be fully severable, but will not affect the remaining provisions of the Restricted Stock or this Agreement, and the Restricted Stock and this Agreement will be construed and enforced as if the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision had never been included.

17.Governing Law. The Restricted Stock and this Agreement will be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware to the extent federal law does not supersede and preempt Delaware law. The obligation of the Company to deliver Common Stock hereunder is subject to all applicable laws and to the approval of any governmental authority required in connection with the authorization, issuance, sale or delivery of such Common Stock.

Executed this [Grant Date].

METROPCS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

/s/ J. Braxton Carter

J. Braxton Carter

CFO & Vice Chairman

You, as the above named Grantee, are not required to take any further action to accept the terms and conditions of this Agreement. If you, as Grantee, desire to accept the Agreement for the grant of Restricted Stock, subject to the terms and provisions hereof and the 2010 Plan and administrative interpretations of such 2010 Plan referred to herein, simply retain a copy of this Agreement for your records, and you shall be DEEMED to have ACCEPTED the Agreement and you shall be DEEMED to become a party to such Agreement, being bound to its terms and conditions. By acceptance, Grantee confirms that the 2010 Plan and the S-8 prospectus for the 2010 Plan have been made available to the Grantee, and that he or she has read and understands the S-8 prospectus relating to the issuance of the Restricted Stock granted under the terms and provisions of this Agreement and Restricted Stock Tax Withholding Acknowledgement delivered in connection with this Agreement.

If you DO NOT WISH TO ACCEPT this Agreement, you must provide written notice of your desire to reject the Agreement for the grant of Restricted Stock within thirty (30) days of the receipt of this Agreement and such written notice must be signed and dated. Please send such written notice to Stock Plan Administration, at 2250 Lakeside Blvd., Richardson, Texas, 75082, Attention: Kim Butzke. Again you must return your written notice of rejection of this Agreement within 30 days of receipt of this Agreement.

EX-10.4

Exhibit 10.4

OFFICER ANNUAL CASH PERFORMANCE AWARD AGREEMENT

THIS 2013 OFFICER ANNUAL CASH PERFORMANCE AWARD AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is entered into as of <DATE> by and between MetroPCS Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its applicable subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively, the "Company"), and "Employee" in connection with Employee's employment by the Company as <POSITION TITLE>, and grants to the Employee an annual cash performance award, as set forth below (the "Award"), pursuant to the MetroPCS Communications, Inc.2010 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan (as amended and in effect from time to time, the "Plan") and subject to the provisions of the Plan, which are incorporated by reference and made a part of this Agreement, as well as the provisions of this Agreement. The Award is intended to constitute a Performance Award as defined in the Plan. By acceptance of the Award, Employee agrees to be bound by all of the terms, provisions, conditions and limitations of the Plan and this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, “Employment” or “Employed” means employment in the position indicated in the first sentence of this paragraph, and does not include employment in any other position in the Company. All capitalized terms have the meanings set forth in the Plan unless otherwise defined herein.

1. Plan Framework

(a)The payout under the Award is allocated based on the “2013 Annual Cash Performance Award Target Opportunity” consisting of the Company/team financial performance and individual performance on the Employee's position objectives and individual effectiveness as set forth below. This performance criteria and target awards approved by the Company's Board of Directors for fiscal year 2013 are provided in the chart below:

2013 Annual Cash Performance Award Target Opportunity1			XXX% of Annual Base Salary2
2013 Measures		Metric Weightings	Allocation between Company and Individual Performance
Company/team Performance*	Gross Margin	30%	70%
	Adjusted EBITDA per average subscriber	25%
	Net Subscriber Additions	25%
	Capital expenditures per ending subscriber	10%
	Discretionary	10%
Individual Performance			30%

_____________________________________

¹ Target and maximum levels of performance will be set using the following criteria:

• Achieving minimum performance - 0% payout

• Achieving target performance - 100% payout

• Achieving maximum performance - 200% payout

The achievement of any level of performance between 0% and 200% will be calculated using straight line interpolation.

² “Annual Base Salary” means the amount the Employee is entitled to receive as base salary on an annualized basis, including any amounts deferred pursuant to any deferred compensation program or contributions to the Company's 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan, but excluding all annual cash performance awards (or equivalent award for annual performance), bonuses, overtime, long-term equity incentive awards, welfare benefit premium reimbursements and incentive compensation, payable by the Company as consideration for the Employee's services.

*As set for the applicable Business Group (Region or Corporate) to which Employee belongs throughout the Performance Period.

Business Group:

2013 Measure	Minimum Performance Amount/Level	Target Performance Amount/Level	Maximum Performance Amount/Level
Gross Margin
Adjusted EBITDA per average subscriber
Net Subscriber Additions
Capital expenditures per ending subscriber

(b)The performance period for the award begins on January 1, 2013 and ends on December 31, 2013 (the "Performance Period").

(c)The Award, if paid, will be paid in cash in the year following the Performance Period (but in no event later than March 15 following the end of the Performance Period).

(d)In the event that the Employee is a Covered Employee, the Award will be considered bifurcated solely for the purpose of designating part of the Award as “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder (the “Performance Award”). Thirty-seven percent (37%) of the Award (i.e. the 30% “Individual Performance” measures plus the 7% “Discretionary” Company/team performance measure noted in the table above) is not intended to constitute a Performance Award. The remaining 63% percent of the Award (i.e. the 21% “Gross Margin” measure, the 17.5% “Adjusted EBITDA per average subscriber” measure, the 17.5% “Net Subscriber Additions” measure and the 7% “Capital expenditures per ending subscriber” measure) shall be designed as a Performance Award and shall be subject to all the terms and conditions within the Plan necessary to designate this portion of the Award as a Performance Award.

(e)The Company reserves the right to change its benefits and the Award allocation formula at any time without notice for any portion of the Award; provided, however, that with respect to any portion of the Award that is a Performance Award, the Company may not make any changes that could result in a increase in the benefits or the Award allocation formula.

2. Eligibility

(a)Employee must be actively Employed by the Company on the last day of the Performance Period to be eligible for the Award (if awarded) and if Employee is not actively Employed (or otherwise employed) by the Company on the last day of the Performance Period, Employee forfeits, and shall not be entitled to or otherwise eligible for, the Award, except as specifically defined within the Plan.

(b)If Employee commenced Employment after October 31 of the Performance Period, then Employee is ineligible to receive, and the Company need not pay, the Award.

3. Proration

(a)If Employee began Employment with the Company after the first day of the Performance Period and prior to October 31 of the Performance Period, the payout under the Award shall be prorated as described below, provided Employee has satisfied the other terms of this Agreement.

(b)If Employee is Employed with the Company and changes positions within the Company after the first day of the Performance Period but prior to the date the Board of Directors approves the Company/team financial performance criteria for the current fiscal year (“Financial Metrics Approval Date”), the payout under this Award, if any, will not be pro-rated for the Performance Period, provided Employee has satisfied the other terms of this Agreement. If the Employee begins Employment after the first day of the Financial Metrics Approval Date but before October 31 of the Performance Period, the payout under this Award, if any, will be pro-rated as described below, provided Employee has satisfied the other terms of this Agreement.

(c)Pro-ration will be calculated by multiplying the total Award by a fraction, the numerator of which will be the total number of days the Employee was Employed with the Company during the Performance Period and the denominator of which will be the total number of days in the Performance Period.

(d)If the Employee changes positions within the Company and the new position has a different 2013 Annual Cash Performance Award Target Opportunity than this Award, the payout under this Award, if any, shall be pro-rated based on the time the Employee participated in the Plan in the Employee's current position covered by this Award during the Performance Period. Pro-ration for an Employee that changes positions within the Company with no change in the 2013 Annual Cash Performance Award Target Opportunity will be calculated by multiplying the total Award by a fraction, the numerator of which will be the total number of days the Employee was Employed with the Company during the Performance Period in each position and the denominator of which will be the total number of days in the Performance Period in each position. Any new Award attributable to the new position(s), which has a different 2013 Annual Cash Performance Award Target Opportunity, would be granted by the Board of Directors of the Company or a delegated committee thereof, in its discretion, in accordance with the Plan pursuant to a new Annual Cash Performance Award Agreement, which payout under such Award, if any, would be prorated based on the time the Employee was Employed with the Company in such new position during the Performance Period.

4. Leaves of Absence

If Employee goes on or continues an approved Company leave of absence during the Performance Period, provided the Employee has satisfied the other applicable terms of this Agreement, the Employee is eligible for a pro-rated Award calculated by dividing the number of days that the Employee was not on leave during the Performance Period by the total number of days in the Performance Period; provided, however, that such pro-rata calculation will be modified as necessary to satisfy any federal or state regulations that may be applicable to the Employee's leave of absence.

5. Repayments

(a)In accordance with Company Policy HR225, Return of Incentive Pay, the Company may make an adjustment or recovery of the Award if performance measures upon which the Award is based are materially restated or otherwise materially adjusted (collectively, a "Restatement") within 12 months of payment in a manner that would have materially reduced the size of the Award at the time of payment.

(b)If a Restatement results from an intentional misrepresentation of financial information or other misconduct on the part of Employee, the Company may recover any material portion of the Award based upon the misrepresentation or misconduct by the Employee.

(c)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall seek recovery of any benefits provided hereunder to Employee (in the form of cash or otherwise) if the Company is required to do so by applicable law, including, but not limited to, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and any regulations promulgated thereunder, or any rule promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, to seek recovery of the benefits provided under this Agreement.

6. Award Not Exclusive

Receipt by Employee of the Award does not preclude the Company from making any other award to Employee under the Plan or any other compensation plan for which the Employee is eligible.

7. No Guarantee of Employment

Neither this Agreement nor Award confers upon Employee any right with respect to continuance of employment or other service with Company or any of its affiliates, nor shall it interfere in any way with any right the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates would otherwise have to terminate, suspend, or otherwise change or alter such Employee's employment or other service at any time.

8. Taxes

(a)Company has the right to make deductions from the Award in an amount sufficient to satisfy withholding of any federal, state or local taxes required by law and may take such other action as may be necessary or appropriate to satisfy any such tax withholding obligations. Employee agrees that any withholding may not satisfy Employee's tax obligations and that notwithstanding any Company action taken pursuant to this Section 8(a), the Employee shall be ultimately responsible for all taxes related to, or associated with, the Award.

(b)Company makes no commitment or guarantee that any federal or state tax treatment will apply or be available to Employee in connection with the Award.

9. Severability

In the event that any provision of this Agreement or the Award is held illegal, invalid, or unenforceable for any reason, such provision shall be fully severable, but will not affect the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the Award, and this Agreement and the Award shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provision had never been included herein or therein.

10. Assignment

This Agreement and all of its terms, covenants and conditions shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the undersigned parties, and may not be assigned by Employee without the written consent of the Company, which consent may be withheld, conditioned or delayed by the Company at its sole discretion.

11. Amendment and Waiver

This Agreement may be amended, superseded, cancelled, renewed or extended only by a written instrument signed by each of the parties or, in the case of a waiver, by the party or parties waiving compliance. No delay on the part of any party in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Agreement will operate as a waiver of such right, power or privilege, nor will any waiver on the part of any party of any right, power or privilege, nor any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or privilege preclude any further exercise such right, power or privilege or the exercise of any other such right, power or privilege.

12. Entire Agreement

This Agreement, together with the Plan and any Change in Control Agreement between the Company and the Employee, constitute the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all other prior or contemporaneous agreements, arrangements, undertakings and understandings, both written and oral, between the parties to this Agreement relating to the Award.

13. Governing Law: Venue

This Agreement, the Plan and the Award and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder and thereunder will be governed, construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflicts of laws. Any legal action or proceeding brought by any party arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Plan or the Award must be brought in state or federal courts sitting in Dallas County, Texas. Each party submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in Dallas County, Texas for all legal actions and proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Plan or the Award.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

EMPLOYEE:

Name:

Title:

COMPANY:

[METROPCS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.]

By: Thomas Currier

Its: SVP Human Resources

COMPANY:

[Subsidiary entity, as applicable]

By:

Its:

EX-31.1

Exhibit 31.1

Certification

Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Roger D. Linquist, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of MetroPCS Communications, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: October 30, 2012	By:	/s/ Roger D. Linquist
		Roger D. Linquist Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

EX-31.2

Exhibit 31.2

Certification

Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, J. Braxton Carter, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of MetroPCS Communications, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: October 30, 2012	By:	/s/ J. Braxton Carter
		J. Braxton Carter Chief Financial Officer and Vice Chairman

EX-32.1

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of MetroPCS Communications, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ending September 30, 2012 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Roger D. Linquist, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:

1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of the dates and for the periods expressed in the Report.

Date: October 30, 2012

By:	/s/  Roger D. Linquist
	Roger D. Linquist
	Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

EX-32.2

Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of MetroPCS Communications, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ending September 30, 2012 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, J. Braxton Carter, Chief Financial Officer and Vice Chairman of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:

1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of the dates and for the periods expressed in the Report.

Date: October 30, 2012

By:	/s/  J. Braxton Carter
	J. Braxton Carter
	Chief Financial Officer and Vice Chairman

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

XML

Supplemental Balance Sheet Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Deferred vendor credits	$ 40,209	$ 0
Derivative liabilities	13,630	11,644
Other	12,305	13,568
Other current liabilities	$ 66,144	$ 25,212

XML

Subsequent Events (Details) (USD $)			1 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 Subsequent Event Business Combination Agreement [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Subsequent Event Business Combination Agreement Combined Entity [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Subsequent Event Business Combination Agreement Termination Contingency [Member]
Subsequent Event
Common stock, par value	$ 0.0001	$ 0.0001		$ 0.00001
Subsequent Event, Proposed Business Combination, Reverse Stock Split Conversion Ratio			0.5
Subsequent Event, Proposed Business Combination, Potential Cash Payment to Shareholders			$ 1,500,000,000
Subsequent Event, Proposed Business Combination, Accounting Acquirer Equity Interest, Percentage Ownership			74.00%
Subsequent Event, Proposed Business Combination, Potential Termination Liability					150,000,000
Subsequent Event, Proposed Business Combination, Potential Termination Receivable					$ 250,000,000

XML

Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Cash paid for interest	$ 206,490,000	$ 183,728,000
Cash paid for income taxes	4,724,000	4,113,000
Non-cash investing and financing activities
Accrued purchases of property and equipment	136,600,000	136,500,000
Assets acquired under capital lease obligations	47,900,000	25,000,000
Equipment returned for credit applicable towads additional equipment	$ 14,700,000

XML

Net Income Per Common Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Basic EPS:
Net income applicable to common stock	$ 192,667	$ 69,326	$ 362,507	$ 210,040
Amount allocable to common shareholders	99.50%	99.10%	99.40%	99.10%
Rights to undistributed earnings	191,617	68,686	360,166	208,106
Weighted average shares outstanding- basic	363,584,552	362,019,205	363,190,434	359,763,082
Net income per common share - basic	$ 0.53	$ 0.19	$ 0.99	$ 0.58
Diluted EPS:
Rights to undistributed earnings	$ 191,617	$ 68,686	$ 360,166	$ 208,106
Weighted average shares outstanding- basic	363,584,552	362,019,205	363,190,434	359,763,082
Effect of dilutive securities, stock options	1,435,284	2,846,021	1,249,681	3,954,716
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	365,019,836	364,865,226	364,440,115	363,717,798
Net income per common share - diluted	$ 0.52	$ 0.19	$ 0.99	$ 0.57
Restricted Stock
Basic EPS:
Incremental common shares attributable to participating unvested restricted shares with non-forfeitable dividend rights	2,000,000	3,400,000	2,400,000	3,400,000
Stock Options
Diluted EPS:
Antidilutive securities excluded from calculation of diluted net income per common share	25,600,000	18,500,000	25,300,000	17,800,000

XML

Asset Acquisition (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Feb. 28, 2011	Nov. 30, 2010	Oct. 31, 2010
Significant Acquisitions
Asset Acquisition, Purchase Price				$ 49.2
Asset Acquisition, Cash Payments		8.0	41.1
Asset Acquisition, Purchase Price Adjustment	0.5
Asset Acquisition, Acquired Property and Equipment, Amount				35.6
Asset Acquisition, Acquired Intangible Assets, Amount				$ 13.6

XML

Supplemental Balance Sheet Information (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]

Schedule of Other Accrued Liabilities

	September 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
	(in thousands)
Other current liabilities:
Deferred vendor credits (1)	$	40,209	$	—
Derivative liabilities	13,630		11,644
Other	12,305		13,568
	$	66,144	$	25,212

 ————————————

(1) Deferred vendor credits consists of credit memos received from a vendor that will be earned upon the return of certain network equipment.

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Guarantor Subsidiaries Summarization of Corrections Guarantor Cash Flow Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Change in advances affiliates	$ 0	$ 0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(717,750)	(700,008)
Change in advances affiliates	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(16,661)	990,578
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	114,057	1,044,230
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	2,057,339	1,840,761	1,943,282	796,531
Parent
Change in advances affiliates	4,382	18,039
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(142,765)	93,250
Change in advances affiliates	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(82)	54,307
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(141,909)	148,487
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	515,380	656,336	657,289	507,849
Parent | As Previously Reported
Change in advances affiliates		679,885
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		755,096
Change in advances affiliates		292,154
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		346,461
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		1,102,487
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period		1,610,336
Parent | As Corrected
Change in advances affiliates		18,039
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		93,250
Change in advances affiliates		0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		54,307
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		148,487
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period		656,336
Issuer
Change in advances affiliates	245,866	264,367
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	285,253	193,636
Change in advances affiliates	291,862	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	281,951	942,493
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	255,965	895,763
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	1,541,231	1,183,705	1,285,266	287,942
Issuer | As Previously Reported
Change in advances affiliates		(689,633)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		(760,364)
Change in advances affiliates		0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		942,493
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		(58,237)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period		229,705
Issuer | As Corrected
Change in advances affiliates		264,367
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		193,636
Change in advances affiliates		0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		942,493
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		895,763
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period		1,183,705
Eliminations
Change in advances affiliates	(250,248)	(282,406)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(250,248)	(282,406)
Change in advances affiliates	250,248	282,406
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	250,248	282,406
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	0	0
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	0	0	0	0
Eliminations | As Previously Reported
Change in advances affiliates		9,748
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		9,478
Change in advances affiliates		(9,748)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(9,748)
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		0
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period		0
Eliminations | As Corrected
Change in advances affiliates		(282,406)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		(282,406)
Change in advances affiliates		282,406
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		282,406
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		0
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period		$ 0

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Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions
Cash equivalents	$ 1,903,369	$ 1,815,538
Short-term investments	507,943	299,972
Restricted cash and investments	2,076	2,576
Long-term investments	1,679	6,319
Total assets measured at fair value	2,415,067	2,124,405
Derivative liabilities	19,126	21,015
Total liabilities measured at fair value	19,126	21,015
Level 1
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions
Cash equivalents	1,903,369	1,815,538
Short-term investments	499,874	299,972
Restricted cash and investments	2,076	2,576
Long-term investments	0	0
Total assets measured at fair value	2,405,319	2,118,086
Derivative liabilities	0	0
Total liabilities measured at fair value	0	0
Level 2
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions
Cash equivalents	0	0
Short-term investments	0	0
Restricted cash and investments	0	0
Long-term investments	0	0
Total assets measured at fair value	0	0
Derivative liabilities	19,126	21,015
Total liabilities measured at fair value	19,126	21,015
Level 3
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions
Cash equivalents	0	0
Short-term investments	8,069	0
Restricted cash and investments	0	0
Long-term investments	1,679	6,319
Total assets measured at fair value	9,748	6,319
Derivative liabilities	0	0
Total liabilities measured at fair value	$ 0	$ 0

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Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Effect of Derivative Instruments on Statement of Income and Comprehenive Income (Details) (Interest Rate Swap, Cash Flow Hedging Relationships, USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss)
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in OCI on Derivative (Effective Portion)	$ (2,751)	$ (15,076)	$ (9,521)	$ (35,774)
Interest Expense
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss)
Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income (Effective Portion)	$ (3,555)	$ (6,424)	$ (11,410)	$ (17,182)

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Guarantor Subsidiaries Schedule of Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
REVENUES:
Revenues, net	$ 1,259,160	$ 1,205,388	$ 3,816,930	$ 3,609,217
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of revenues	638,972	725,506	2,133,103	2,184,749
Selling, general and administrative expense	163,409	162,459	507,497	486,786
Other operating expenses	164,541	140,592	473,876	405,259
Total operating expenses	966,922	1,028,557	3,114,476	3,076,794
Operating income (loss)	292,238	176,831	702,454	532,423
OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME):
Interest expense	66,655	69,511	206,224	193,051
Non-operating (income) expense	(53,065)	(624)	(54,126)	7,445
Earnings from consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Total other (income) expense	13,590	68,887	152,098	200,496
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	278,648	107,944	550,356	331,927
Provision for income taxes	(85,981)	(38,618)	(187,849)	(121,887)
Net income	192,667	69,326	362,507	210,040
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	3,962	(5,365)	4,670	(11,532)
Comprehensive income (loss)	196,629	63,961	367,177	198,508
Parent
REVENUES:
Revenues, net	0	0	0	0
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of revenues	0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expense	0	0	0	0
Other operating expenses	0	0	0	0
Total operating expenses	0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)	0	0	0	0
OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME):
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Non-operating (income) expense	(52,911)	(452)	(53,643)	(1,439)
Earnings from consolidated subsidiaries	(139,756)	(68,874)	(308,864)	(208,601)
Total other (income) expense	(192,667)	(69,326)	(362,507)	(210,040)
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	192,667	69,326	362,507	210,040
Provision for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Net income	192,667	69,326	362,507	210,040
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	3,962	(5,365)	4,670	(11,532)
Comprehensive income (loss)	196,629	63,961	367,177	198,508
Issuer
REVENUES:
Revenues, net	9,026	4,558	22,264	15,483
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of revenues	8,263	4,180	21,165	14,389
Selling, general and administrative expense	763	378	1,099	1,094
Other operating expenses	53	91	167	245
Total operating expenses	9,079	4,649	22,431	15,728
Operating income (loss)	(53)	(91)	(167)	(245)
OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME):
Interest expense	62,798	64,750	191,080	180,044
Non-operating (income) expense	(3)	(47)	(8)	9,462
Earnings from consolidated subsidiaries	(287,870)	(171,801)	(688,126)	(521,670)
Total other (income) expense	(225,075)	(107,098)	(497,054)	(332,164)
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	225,022	107,007	496,887	331,919
Provision for income taxes	(85,266)	(38,133)	(188,023)	(123,318)
Net income	139,756	68,874	308,864	208,601
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	506	(5,330)	1,173	(11,464)
Comprehensive income (loss)	140,262	63,544	310,037	197,137
Guarantor Subsidiaries
REVENUES:
Revenues, net	1,257,474	1,208,170	3,816,686	3,616,464
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of revenues	638,049	728,666	2,133,958	2,193,090
Selling, general and administrative expense	162,646	162,081	506,398	485,692
Other operating expenses	164,488	140,501	473,709	405,014
Total operating expenses	965,183	1,031,248	3,114,065	3,083,796
Operating income (loss)	292,291	176,922	702,621	532,668
OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME):
Interest expense	3,857	4,761	15,144	13,007
Non-operating (income) expense	(151)	(125)	(475)	(578)
Earnings from consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Total other (income) expense	3,706	4,636	14,669	12,429
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	288,585	172,286	687,952	520,239
Provision for income taxes	(715)	(485)	174	1,431
Net income	287,870	171,801	688,126	521,670
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss)	287,870	171,801	688,126	521,670
Eliminations
REVENUES:
Revenues, net	(7,340)	(7,340)	(22,020)	(22,730)
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of revenues	(7,340)	(7,340)	(22,020)	(22,730)
Selling, general and administrative expense	0	0	0	0
Other operating expenses	0	0	0	0
Total operating expenses	(7,340)	(7,340)	(22,020)	(22,730)
Operating income (loss)	0	0	0	0
OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME):
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Non-operating (income) expense	0	0	0	0
Earnings from consolidated subsidiaries	427,626	240,675	996,990	730,271
Total other (income) expense	427,626	240,675	996,990	730,271
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	(427,626)	(240,675)	(996,990)	(730,271)
Provision for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Net income	(427,626)	(240,675)	(996,990)	(730,271)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(506)	5,330	(1,173)	11,464
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ (428,132)	$ (235,345)	$ (998,163)	$ (718,807)

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Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Long-term purchase commitment, minimum commitment			$ 164,100,000
Long-term purchase commitment, term			5 years
Total aggregate commitment, pricing agreement	24,200,000		24,200,000
Gain on settlement	$ 52,500,000	$ 0	$ 52,500,000	$ 0

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Short-term Investments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]

Short-term Investments

Short-term Investments:

The Company’s short-term investments consist of securities classified as available-for-sale, which are stated at fair value. The securities include U.S. Treasury securities and certain auction rate securities with an original maturity of over 90 days. Unrealized gains, net of related income taxes, for available-for-sale securities are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), a component of stockholders’ equity, until realized. The estimated fair values of investments are based on quoted market prices as of the end of the reporting period. The U.S. Treasury securities reported as of September 30, 2012 have contractual maturities of less than one year.

Short-term investments, with an original maturity of over 90 days, consisted of the following (in thousands):

	As of September 30, 2012
	Amortized Cost		Unrealized Gain in Accumulated OCI		Unrealized Loss in Accumulated OCI			Aggregate Fair Value
Equity securities	$	7	$	—	$	(6	)	$	1
U.S. Treasury securities	499,731		142		—			499,873
Auction rate securities	1,210		6,859		—			8,069
Total short-term investments	$	500,948	$	7,001	$	(6	)	$	507,943

	As of December 31, 2011
	Amortized Cost		Unrealized Gain in Accumulated OCI		Unrealized Loss in Accumulated OCI			Aggregate Fair Value
Equity securities	$	7	$	—	$	(6	)	$	1
U.S. Treasury securities	299,939		32		—			299,971
Total short-term investments	$	299,946	$	32	$	(6	)	$	299,972

In October 2012, the Company sold certain auction rate securities for approximately $8.1 million in cash. Accordingly, the Company classified the auction rate securities sold in October 2012 as short-term investments as of September 30, 2012.

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Fair Value Measurements Derivatives Observable Inputs Reconciliation (Details) (Level 2, USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Level 2
Derivatives Measured on a Recurring Basis, Observable Input Rollforward
Beginning Balance	$ 19,930	$ 18,249	$ 21,015	$ 8,309
Gain (loss) included in earnings	3,555	6,424	11,410	17,182
Gain (loss) included in other comprehensive income	(2,751)	(15,076)	(9,521)	(35,774)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 2	0	0	0	0
Purchases, sales, issuances, settlements	0	0	0	0
Ending Balance	$ 19,126	$ 26,901	$ 19,126	$ 26,901

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Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]

Schedule of Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011
	(in thousands)
Cash paid for interest	$	206,490	$	183,728
Cash paid for income taxes	4,724		4,113

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Net Income Per Common Share (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income per common share for the periods indicated (in thousands, except share and per share data):

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
Basic EPS:
Net income applicable to common stock	$	192,667		$	69,326		$	362,507		$	210,040
Amount allocable to common shareholders	99.5		%	99.1		%	99.4		%	99.1		%
Rights to undistributed earnings	$	191,617		$	68,686		$	360,166		$	208,106
Weighted average shares outstanding—basic	363,584,552			362,019,205			363,190,434			359,763,082
Net income per common share—basic	$	0.53		$	0.19		$	0.99		$	0.58
Diluted EPS:
Rights to undistributed earnings	$	191,617		$	68,686		$	360,166		$	208,106
Weighted average shares outstanding—basic	363,584,552			362,019,205			363,190,434			359,763,082
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options	1,435,284			2,846,021			1,249,681			3,954,716
Weighted average shares outstanding—diluted	365,019,836			364,865,226			364,440,115			363,717,798
Net income per common share—diluted	$	0.52		$	0.19		$	0.99		$	0.57

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Fair Value Measurements Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation (Details) (Level 3, USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Level 3
Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Rollforward
Beginning Balance	$ 6,319	$ 6,319	$ 6,319	$ 6,319
Gain (loss) included in earnings	0	0	0	0
Gain (loss) included in other comprehensive income	3,429	0	3,429	0
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3	0	0	0	0
Purchases, sales, issuances, settlements	0	0	0	0
Ending Balance	$ 9,748	$ 6,319	$ 9,748	$ 6,319

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Related-Party Transactions (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

Schedule of Related Party Transactions

Transactions associated with the related-parties described above are included in various line items in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets, condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, and condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. The following tables summarize the transactions with related-parties (in millions):

	September 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
Network service fees included in prepaid expenses	$	—	$	1.5
Receivables from related-party included in other current assets	3.5		0.7
DAS equipment included in property and equipment, net	—		383.1
Deferred network service fees included in other assets	—		8.2
Payments due to related-party included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	6.0		6.6
Current portion of capital lease obligations included in current maturities of long-term debt	—		7.1
Non-current portion of capital lease obligations included in long-term debt, net	—		240.1
Deferred DAS service fees included in other long-term liabilities	—		1.4

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2012		2011
Fees received by the Company as compensation included in service revenues	$	2.9	$	2.9	$	8.7	$	8.2
Fees received by the Company as compensation included in equipment revenues	9.8		4.9		24.1		16.2
Fees paid by the Company for services and related expenses included in cost of service	—		3.3		3.6		9.6
Fees paid by the Company for services included in selling, general and administrative expenses	1.9		0.6		4.7		3.2
DAS equipment depreciation included in depreciation expense	—		8.7		9.6		27.2
Capital lease interest included in interest expense	—		4.9		5.2		14.3

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011
Capital lease payments included in financing activities	$	1.4	$	5.5

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Guarantor Subsidiaries (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Guarantor Subsidiaries [Abstract]

Schedule of Error Correction to Financial Information

The impact to the comparative historical condensed consolidating statement of cash flows for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011 is as follows:

	Parent As Previously Reported	Parent As Corrected	Issuer As Previously Reported		Issuer As Corrected	Eliminations As Previously Reported		Eliminations As Corrected
	(in thousands)
Change in advances - affiliates	679,885	18,039	(689,633	)	264,367	9,748		(282,406	)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	755,096	93,250	(760,364	)	193,636	9,478		(282,406	)
Change in advances - affiliates	292,154	—	—		—	(9,748	)	282,406
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	346,461	54,307	942,493		942,493	(9,748	)	282,406
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,102,487	148,487	(58,237	)	895,763	—		—
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	1,610,336	656,336	229,705		1,183,705	—		—

Schedule of Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet Information

As of September 30, 2012

	Parent		Issuer		Guarantor Subsidiaries		Eliminations			Consolidated
	(in thousands)
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	515,380	$	1,541,231	$	728	$	—		$	2,057,339
Short-term investments	507,943		—		—		—			507,943
Inventories	—		295,287		17,345		—			312,632
Prepaid expenses	89		2,421		77,530		—			80,040
Advances to subsidiaries	695,842		—		—		(695,842		)	—
Other current assets	67		194,567		32,234		—			226,868
Total current assets	1,719,321		2,033,506		127,837		(695,842		)	3,184,822
Property and equipment, net	—		1,017		4,196,382		—			4,197,399
Long-term investments	1,679		—		—		—			1,679
Investment in subsidiaries	1,607,677		5,417,110		—		(7,024,787		)	—
FCC licenses	—		3,800		2,558,515		—			2,562,315
Other assets	—		97,689		30,183		(2,178		)	125,694
Total assets	$	3,328,677	$	7,553,122	$	6,912,917	$	(7,722,807	)	$	10,071,909
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Advances from subsidiaries	—		260,898		434,944		(695,842		)	—
Other current liabilities	—		246,594		538,056		—			784,650
Total current liabilities	—		507,492		973,000		(695,842		)	784,650
Long-term debt, net	—		4,419,692		311,482		—			4,731,174
Deferred credits	6,230		1,004,818		133,272		(2,178		)	1,142,142
Other long-term liabilities	—		13,443		78,053		—			91,496
Total liabilities	6,230		5,945,445		1,495,807		(698,020		)	6,749,462
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common stock	36		—		—		—			36
Other stockholders’ equity	3,322,411		1,607,677		5,417,110		(7,024,787		)	3,322,411
Total stockholders’ equity	3,322,447		1,607,677		5,417,110		(7,024,787		)	3,322,447
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	3,328,677	$	7,553,122	$	6,912,917	$	(7,722,807	)	$	10,071,909

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet Information

As of December 31, 2011

	Parent		Issuer		Guarantor Subsidiaries		Eliminations			Consolidated
	(in thousands)
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	657,289	$	1,285,266	$	727	$	—		$	1,943,282
Short-term investments	299,972		—		—		—			299,972
Inventories	—		226,124		13,524		—			239,648
Prepaid expenses	—		386		55,326		—			55,712
Advances to subsidiaries	671,193		245,866		—		(917,059		)	—
Other current assets	96		179,855		25,028		—			204,979
Total current assets	1,628,550		1,937,497		94,605		(917,059		)	2,743,593
Property and equipment, net	—		1,378		4,016,621		—			4,017,999
Long-term investments	6,319		—		—		—			6,319
Investment in subsidiaries	1,297,957		4,728,985		—		(6,026,942		)	—
FCC licenses	—		3,800		2,535,241		—			2,539,041
Other assets	—		137,985		39,612		(1,618		)	175,979
Total assets	$	2,932,826	$	6,809,645	$	6,686,079	$	(6,945,619	)	$	9,482,931
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Advances from subsidiaries	—		—		917,059		(917,059		)	—
Other current liabilities	—		243,247		573,476		—			816,723
Total current liabilities	—		243,247		1,490,535		(917,059		)	816,723
Long-term debt, net	—		4,437,924		273,097		—			4,711,021
Deferred credits	5,226		813,498		120,028		(1,618		)	937,134
Other long-term liabilities	—		17,019		73,434		—			90,453
Total liabilities	5,226		5,511,688		1,957,094		(918,677		)	6,555,331
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common stock	36		—		—		—			36
Other stockholders’ equity	2,927,564		1,297,957		4,728,985		(6,026,942		)	2,927,564
Total stockholders’ equity	2,927,600		1,297,957		4,728,985		(6,026,942		)	2,927,600
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	2,932,826	$	6,809,645	$	6,686,079	$	(6,945,619	)	$	9,482,931

Schedule of Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income Information

Three Months Ended September 30, 2012

	Parent			Issuer			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	(in thousands)
REVENUES:
Total Revenues	$	—		$	9,026		$	1,257,474		$	(7,340	)	$	1,259,160
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of revenues	—			8,263			638,049			(7,340		)	638,972
Selling, general and administrative expenses	—			763			162,646			—			163,409
Other operating expenses	—			53			164,488			—			164,541
Total operating expenses	—			9,079			965,183			(7,340		)	966,922
(Loss) income from operations	—			(53		)	292,291			—			292,238
OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME):
Interest expense	—			62,798			3,857			—			66,655
Non-operating (income) expenses	(52,911		)	(3		)	(151		)	—			(53,065		)
Earnings from consolidated subsidiaries	(139,756		)	(287,870		)	—			427,626			—
Total other (income) expense	(192,667		)	(225,075		)	3,706			427,626			13,590
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	192,667			225,022			288,585			(427,626		)	278,648
Provision for income taxes	—			(85,266		)	(715		)	—			(85,981		)
Net income (loss)	$	192,667		$	139,756		$	287,870		$	(427,626	)	$	192,667
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	3,962			506			—			(506		)	3,962
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	196,629		$	140,262		$	287,870		$	(428,132	)	$	196,629

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income Information

Three Months Ended September 30, 2011

	Parent			Issuer			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	(in thousands)
REVENUES:
Total Revenues	$	—		$	4,558		$	1,208,170		$	(7,340	)	$	1,205,388
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of revenues	—			4,180			728,666			(7,340		)	725,506
Selling, general and administrative expenses	—			378			162,081			—			162,459
Other operating expenses	—			91			140,501			—			140,592
Total operating expenses	—			4,649			1,031,248			(7,340		)	1,028,557
(Loss) income from operations	—			(91		)	176,922			—			176,831
OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME):
Interest expense	—			64,750			4,761			—			69,511
Non-operating (income) expenses	(452		)	(47		)	(125		)	—			(624		)
Earnings from consolidated subsidiaries	(68,874		)	(171,801		)	—			240,675			—
Total other (income) expense	(69,326		)	(107,098		)	4,636			240,675			68,887
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	69,326			107,007			172,286			(240,675		)	107,944
Provision benefit for income taxes	—			(38,133		)	(485		)	—			(38,618		)
Net income (loss)	$	69,326		$	68,874		$	171,801		$	(240,675	)	$	69,326
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	(5,365		)	(5,330		)	—			5,330			(5,365		)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	63,961		$	63,544		$	171,801		$	(235,345	)	$	63,961

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income Information

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012

	Parent			Issuer			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	(in thousands)
REVENUES:
Total Revenues	$	—		$	22,264		$	3,816,686		$	(22,020	)	$	3,816,930
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of revenues	—			21,165			2,133,958			(22,020		)	2,133,103
Selling, general and administrative expenses	—			1,099			506,398			—			507,497
Other operating expenses	—			167			473,709			—			473,876
Total operating expenses	—			22,431			3,114,065			(22,020		)	3,114,476
(Loss) income from operations	—			(167		)	702,621			—			702,454
OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME):
Interest expense	—			191,080			15,144			—			206,224
Non-operating (income) expenses	(53,643		)	(8		)	(475		)	—			(54,126		)
Earnings from consolidated subsidiaries	(308,864		)	(688,126		)	—			996,990			—
Total other (income) expense	(362,507		)	(497,054		)	14,669			996,990			152,098
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	362,507			496,887			687,952			(996,990		)	550,356
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	—			(188,023		)	174			—			(187,849		)
Net income (loss)	$	362,507		$	308,864		$	688,126		$	(996,990	)	$	362,507
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	4,670			1,173			—			(1,173		)	4,670
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	367,177		$	310,037		$	688,126		$	(998,163	)	$	367,177

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income Information

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011

	Parent			Issuer			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	(in thousands)
REVENUES:
Total Revenues	$	—		$	15,483		$	3,616,464		$	(22,730	)	$	3,609,217
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of revenues	—			14,389			2,193,090			(22,730		)	2,184,749
Selling, general and administrative expenses	—			1,094			485,692			—			486,786
Other operating expenses	—			245			405,014			—			405,259
Total operating expenses	—			15,728			3,083,796			(22,730		)	3,076,794
(Loss) income from operations	—			(245		)	532,668			—			532,423
OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME):
Interest expense	—			180,044			13,007			—			193,051
Non-operating (income) expenses	(1,439		)	9,462			(578		)	—			7,445
Earnings from consolidated subsidiaries	(208,601		)	(521,670		)	—			730,271			—
Total other (income) expense	(210,040		)	(332,164		)	12,429			730,271			200,496
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	210,040			331,919			520,239			(730,271		)	331,927
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	—			(123,318		)	1,431			—			(121,887		)
Net income (loss)	$	210,040		$	208,601		$	521,670		$	(730,271	)	$	210,040
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	(11,532		)	(11,464		)	—			11,464			(11,532		)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	198,508		$	197,137		$	521,670		$	(718,807	)	$	198,508

Schedule of Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows Information

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012

	Parent			Issuer			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	(in thousands)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$	938		$	(311,239	)	$	1,158,769		$	—		$	848,468
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property and equipment	—			(443		)	(587,889		)	—			(588,332		)
Purchase of investments	(692,147		)	—			—			—			(692,147		)
Proceeds from maturity of investments	492,500			—			—			—			492,500
Change in advances – affiliates	4,382			245,866			—			(250,248		)	—
Other investing activities, net	52,500			39,830			(22,101		)	—			70,229
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(142,765		)	285,253			(609,990		)	(250,248		)	(717,750		)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Change in advances – affiliates	—			291,862			(542,110		)	250,248			—
Change in book overdraft	—			9,131			—			—			9,131
Other financing activities, net	(82		)	(19,042		)	(6,668		)	—			(25,792		)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(82		)	281,951			(548,778		)	250,248			(16,661		)
(DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(141,909		)	255,965			1			—			114,057
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	657,289			1,285,266			727			—			1,943,282
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	$	515,380		$	1,541,231		$	728		$	—		$	2,057,339

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows Information

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011

	Parent			Issuer			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	(in thousands)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$	930		$	(240,366	)	$	993,096		$	—		$	753,660
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property and equipment	—			(5,790		)	(693,835		)	—			(699,625		)
Purchase of investments	(462,289		)	—			—			—			(462,289		)
Proceeds from maturity of investments	537,500			—			—			—			537,500
Change in advances - affiliates	18,039			264,367			—			(282,406		)	—
Other investing activities, net	—			(64,941		)	(10,653		)	—			(75,594		)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	93,250			193,636			(704,488		)	(282,406		)	(700,008		)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Change in advances - affiliates	—			—			(282,406		)	282,406			—
Change in book overdraft	—			14,081			—			—			14,081
Proceeds from debt issuance, net of discount	—			1,497,500			—			—			1,497,500
Retirement of long-term debt	—			(535,792		)	—			—			(535,792		)
Other financing activities, net	54,307			(33,296		)	(6,222		)	—			14,789
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	54,307			942,493			(288,628		)	282,406			990,578
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	148,487			895,763			(20		)	—			1,044,230
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	507,849			287,942			740			—			796,531
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	$	656,336		$	1,183,705		$	720		$	—		$	1,840,761

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Asset Acquisition

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Significant Asset Acquisition [Abstract]

Asset Acquisition

Asset Acquisition:

In October 2010, the Company entered into an asset purchase agreement to acquire 10 MHz of AWS spectrum and certain related network assets adjacent to the Northeast metropolitan areas for a total purchase price of $49.2 million. In November 2010, the Company closed on the acquisition of the network assets and paid a total of $41.1 million in cash. In February 2011, the Company closed on the acquisition of the 10 MHz of AWS spectrum and paid $8.0 million in cash. In June 2011, the Company completed its final settlement of costs and received $0.5 million in cash as reimbursement for pre-acquisition payments made on behalf of the seller. The Company used the relative fair values of the assets acquired to allocate the purchase price, of which $35.6 million was allocated to property and equipment and $13.6 million was allocated to Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) licenses.

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Basis of Presentation (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
FUSF, E-911, and other regulatory fees included in gross revenue	$ 9.3	$ 16.8	$ 34.5	$ 52.3

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Long-term Debt (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Debt Instrument
Total long-term debt	$ 4,775,077	$ 4,753,083
Unamortized discount on debt	(7,791)	(8,602)
Total debt	4,767,286	4,744,481
Current maturities of long-term debt	(36,112)	(33,460)
Long-term debt, net	4,731,174	4,711,021
Senior Secured Credit Facility
Debt Instrument
Total long-term debt	2,452,873	2,471,916
7 7/8% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument
Total long-term debt	1,000,000	1,000,000
6 5/8% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument
Total long-term debt	1,000,000	1,000,000
Capital lease obligations
Debt Instrument
Total long-term debt	$ 322,204	$ 281,167

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Guarantor Subsidiaries Schedule of Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 848,468	$ 753,660
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property and equipment	(588,332)	(699,625)
Purchases of investments	(692,147)	(462,289)
Proceeds from maturity of investments	492,500	537,500
Change in advances affiliates	0	0
Other investing activities, net	70,229	(75,594)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(717,750)	(700,008)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Change in advances affiliates	0	0
Change in book overdraft	9,131	14,081
Proceeds from debt issuance, net of discount	0	1,497,500
Retirement of long-term debt	0	535,792
Other financing activities, net	(25,792)	14,789
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(16,661)	990,578
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	114,057	1,044,230
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	1,943,282	796,531
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	2,057,339	1,840,761
Parent
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	938	930
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property and equipment	0	0
Purchases of investments	(692,147)	(462,289)
Proceeds from maturity of investments	492,500	537,500
Change in advances affiliates	4,382	18,039
Other investing activities, net	52,500	0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(142,765)	93,250
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Change in advances affiliates	0	0
Change in book overdraft	0	0
Proceeds from debt issuance, net of discount		0
Retirement of long-term debt		0
Other financing activities, net	(82)	54,307
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(82)	54,307
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(141,909)	148,487
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	657,289	507,849
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	515,380	656,336
Issuer
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(311,239)	(240,366)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property and equipment	(443)	(5,790)
Purchases of investments	0	0
Proceeds from maturity of investments	0	0
Change in advances affiliates	245,866	264,367
Other investing activities, net	39,830	(64,941)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	285,253	193,636
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Change in advances affiliates	291,862	0
Change in book overdraft	9,131	14,081
Proceeds from debt issuance, net of discount		1,497,500
Retirement of long-term debt		535,792
Other financing activities, net	(19,042)	(33,296)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	281,951	942,493
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	255,965	895,763
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	1,285,266	287,942
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	1,541,231	1,183,705
Guarantor Subsidiaries
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	1,158,769	993,096
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property and equipment	(587,889)	(693,835)
Purchases of investments	0	0
Proceeds from maturity of investments	0	0
Change in advances affiliates	0	0
Other investing activities, net	(22,101)	(10,653)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(609,990)	(704,488)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Change in advances affiliates	(542,110)	(282,406)
Change in book overdraft	0	0
Proceeds from debt issuance, net of discount		0
Retirement of long-term debt		0
Other financing activities, net	(6,668)	(6,222)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(548,778)	(288,628)
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	1	(20)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	727	740
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	728	720
Eliminations
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	0	0
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property and equipment	0	0
Purchases of investments	0	0
Proceeds from maturity of investments	0	0
Change in advances affiliates	(250,248)	(282,406)
Other investing activities, net	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(250,248)	(282,406)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Change in advances affiliates	250,248	282,406
Change in book overdraft	0	0
Proceeds from debt issuance, net of discount		0
Retirement of long-term debt		0
Other financing activities, net	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	250,248	282,406
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	0	0
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	0	0
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	$ 0	$ 0

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Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 2,057,339	$ 1,943,282
Short-term investments	507,943	299,972
Inventories	312,632	239,648
Accounts receivable (net of allowance for uncollectible accounts of $490 and $601 at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively)	95,263	78,023
Prepaid expenses	80,040	55,712
Deferred charges	71,590	74,970
Deferred tax assets	7,666	7,214
Other current assets	52,349	44,772
Total current assets	3,184,822	2,743,593
Property and equipment, net	4,197,399	4,017,999
Restricted cash and investments	2,076	2,576
Long-term investments	1,679	6,319
FCC licenses	2,562,315	2,539,041
Other assets	123,618	173,403
Total assets	10,071,909	9,482,931
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	450,087	512,346
Current maturities of long-term debt	36,112	33,460
Deferred revenue	232,307	245,705
Other current liabilities	66,144	25,212
Total current liabilities	784,650	816,723
Long-term debt, net	4,731,174	4,711,021
Deferred tax liabilities	1,008,870	817,106
Deferred rents	133,272	120,028
Other long-term liabilities	91,496	90,453
Total liabilities	6,749,462	6,555,331
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (See Note 9)
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized; no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011	0	0
Common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 1,000,000,000 shares authorized, 363,875,489 and 362,460,395 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	36	36
Additional paid-in capital	1,815,315	1,784,273
Retained earnings	1,521,925	1,159,418
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(4,625)	(9,295)
Less treasury stock, at cost, 965,021 and 602,881 treasury shares at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	(10,204)	(6,832)
Total stockholders' equity	3,322,447	2,927,600
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 10,071,909	$ 9,482,931

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Fair Value Measurements Fair Value Disclosure, Fair Value and Carrying Amounts (Details) (USD $) In Billions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Carrying value
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions
Long-term Debt, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 4.5	$ 4.5
Estimated fair value
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions
Long-term Debt, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 4.6	$ 4.4

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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 362,507	$ 210,040
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	469,258	402,528
Provision for uncollectible accounts receivable	3,155	382
Deferred rent expense	13,432	13,457
Cost of abandoned cell sites	1,357	650
Share-based compensation	28,756	32,142
Non-cash interest expense	5,563	6,141
Loss (gain) on disposal of assets	4,618	2,731
Gain on settlement	(52,500)	0
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	9,536
Gain on sale of investments	(154)	(441)
Accretion expense, asset retirement obligation	4,900	4,198
Deferred income taxes	191,243	119,290
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Inventories	(72,984)	14,047
Accounts receivable, net	(17,152)	(7,373)
Prepaid expenses	(24,279)	(16,289)
Deferred charges	3,379	2,307
Other assets	16,469	24,755
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(82,100)	(90,087)
Deferred revenue	(13,398)	19,225
Other liabilities	6,398	6,421
Net cash provided by operating activities	848,468	753,660
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property and equipment	(588,332)	(699,625)
Change in prepaid purchases of property and equipment	39,330	(65,241)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	897	845
Purchase of investments	(692,147)	(462,289)
Proceeds from maturity of investments	492,500	537,500
Proceeds from gain on settlement	52,500	0
Change in restricted cash and investments	500	300
Acquisitions of FCC licenses and microwave clearing costs	(22,998)	(4,003)
Cash used in asset acquisitions	0	(7,495)
Net cash used in investing activities	(717,750)	(700,008)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Change in book overdraft	9,131	14,081
Proceeds from debt issuance, net of discount	0	1,497,500
Debt issuance costs	0	(15,351)
Repayment of debt	(19,042)	(17,945)
Retirement of long-term debt	0	(535,792)
Payments on capital lease obligations	(6,668)	(6,222)
Purchase of treasury stock	(3,373)	(4,359)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	3,291	58,666
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(16,661)	990,578
INCREASE (DECREASE) CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	114,057	1,044,230
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	1,943,282	796,531
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	$ 2,057,339	$ 1,840,761

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Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Details) (Interest Rate Swap, USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012
Derivative
Derivatives, Expected net loss to be transferred from accumulated OCI to earnings within 12 months	$ 13.6
Swaps Effective February 2012
Derivative
Notional Amount of Interest Rate Derivatives	950.0
Derivative, Weighted Average Fixed Interest Rate	4.908%
Derivative, Maturity Date	Feb. 01, 2014
Swaps Effective April 2011
Derivative
Notional Amount of Interest Rate Derivatives	450.0
Derivative, Weighted Average Fixed Interest Rate	5.242%
Derivative, Maturity Date	Apr. 15, 2014
Designated as Hedging Instrument
Derivative
Derivative, Net Liability Position, Aggregate Fair Value	$ 19.1

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Short-term Investments (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]

Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities

Short-term investments, with an original maturity of over 90 days, consisted of the following (in thousands):

	As of September 30, 2012
	Amortized Cost		Unrealized Gain in Accumulated OCI		Unrealized Loss in Accumulated OCI			Aggregate Fair Value
Equity securities	$	7	$	—	$	(6	)	$	1
U.S. Treasury securities	499,731		142		—			499,873
Auction rate securities	1,210		6,859		—			8,069
Total short-term investments	$	500,948	$	7,001	$	(6	)	$	507,943

	As of December 31, 2011
	Amortized Cost		Unrealized Gain in Accumulated OCI		Unrealized Loss in Accumulated OCI			Aggregate Fair Value
Equity securities	$	7	$	—	$	(6	)	$	1
U.S. Treasury securities	299,939		32		—			299,971
Total short-term investments	$	299,946	$	32	$	(6	)	$	299,972

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Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Schedule of Derivative Instruments in Statement of Financial Position (Details) (Interest Rate Swap, Designated as Hedging Instrument, USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Derivatives, Fair Value
Derivatives, net fair value	$ (19,126)	$ (21,015)
Other current liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value
Derivative liability, fair value	(13,630)	(11,644)
Other long-term liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value
Derivative liability, fair value	$ (5,496)	$ (9,371)

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Intangible Assets (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets

The change in the carrying value of intangible assets during the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 is as follows (in thousands):

	FCC Licenses		Microwave Relocation Costs
Balance at January 1, 2012	$	2,513,770	$	25,271
Additions	21,946		1,328
Disposals	—		—
Balance at September 30, 2012	$	2,535,716	$	26,599

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Basis of Presentation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation:

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements include the balances and results of operations of MetroPCS Communications, Inc. (“MetroPCS”) and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”).

The condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income and cash flows for the periods ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, and the related footnotes are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included herein reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal, recurring adjustments) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to state fairly the results for the interim periods presented. The results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the operating results to be expected for any subsequent interim period or for the fiscal year.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of certain assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The Company has thirteen operating segments based on geographic regions within the United States: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Orlando/Jacksonville, Philadelphia, Sacramento, San Francisco and Tampa/Sarasota. In accordance with the provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 280 (Topic 280, “Segment Reporting”), the Company aggregates its thirteen operating segments into one reportable segment.

Federal Universal Service Fund (“FUSF”), E-911 and various other fees are assessed by various governmental authorities in connection with the services that the Company provides to its customers. The Company offers a family of service plans, which include all applicable taxes and regulatory fees (“tax inclusive plans”). The Company reports regulatory fees for the tax inclusive plans in cost of service on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income. When the Company separately assesses these regulatory fees on its customers for those service plans that do not include taxes or regulatory fees, the Company reports these regulatory fees on a gross basis in service revenues and cost of service on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income. For the three months endedSeptember 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company recorded $9.3 million and $16.8 million, respectively, of FUSF, E-911 and other fees on a gross basis. For the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company recorded $34.5 million and $52.3 million, respectively, of FUSF, E-911 and other fees on a gross basis. Sales, use and excise taxes for all service plans are reported on a net basis in selling, general and administrative expenses on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2012, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2012-02, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment," allowing entities to make a qualitative evaluation about the likelihood of impairment of an indefinite-lived intangible asset to determine whether the quantitative test is required, as opposed to required annual quantitative impairment testing.  The amendment was effective for interim and annual impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012.  Early adoption is permitted. The Company did not elect to utilize a qualitative assessment and has performed the annual quantitative impairment test as of September 30, consistent with prior years.  The implementation of this standard is not expected to affect the Company's financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

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Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets Parentheticals (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Allowance for uncollectible accounts	$ 490	$ 601
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.0001	$ 0.0001
Preferred stock, shares authorized	100,000,000	100,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Common stock, par value	$ 0.0001	$ 0.0001
Common stock, shares authorized	1,000,000,000	1,000,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	363,875,489	362,460,395
Common stock, shares outstanding	363,875,489	362,460,395
Treasury stock, shares	965,021	602,881

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Supplemental Cash Flow Information

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]

Supplemental Cash Flow Information

Supplemental Cash Flow Information:

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011
	(in thousands)
Cash paid for interest	$	206,490	$	183,728
Cash paid for income taxes	4,724		4,113

Non-cash investing and financing activities

The Company’s accrued purchases of property and equipment were $136.6 million and $136.5 million as of September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Included within the Company’s accrued purchases are estimates by management for construction services received based on a percentage of completion.

Assets acquired under capital lease obligations were $47.9 million and $25.0 million for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

During the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012, the Company returned obsolete network infrastructure assets to one of its vendors in exchange for $14.7 million in credits towards the purchase of additional network infrastructure assets with the vendor.

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Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Oct. 19, 2012
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	METROPCS COMMUNICATIONS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001283699
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		364,103,435

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Related-Party Transactions

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

Related-Party Transactions

Related-Party Transactions:

A private equity fund affiliated with one of the Company's greater than 5% stockholders owns:

• A less than 20% interest in a company that provides services to the Company's customers, including handset insurance programs. Pursuant to the Company's agreement with this related-party, the Company bills its customers directly for these services and remits the fees collected from its customers for these services to the related-party. In addition, the Company receives compensation for selling handsets to the related-party;

• A less than 20% equity interest in a company that provides advertising services to the Company; and

• A less than 60% interest in a company that provides distributed antenna systems ("DAS") leases and maintenance to wireless carriers, including the Company. These DAS leases are accounted for as capital or operating leases in the Company's financial statements. This company is no longer a related party as of April 2012 because it is no longer owned by the affiliated fund.

Transactions associated with the related-parties described above are included in various line items in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets, condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, and condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. The following tables summarize the transactions with related-parties (in millions):

	September 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
Network service fees included in prepaid expenses	$	—	$	1.5
Receivables from related-party included in other current assets	3.5		0.7
DAS equipment included in property and equipment, net	—		383.1
Deferred network service fees included in other assets	—		8.2
Payments due to related-party included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	6.0		6.6
Current portion of capital lease obligations included in current maturities of long-term debt	—		7.1
Non-current portion of capital lease obligations included in long-term debt, net	—		240.1
Deferred DAS service fees included in other long-term liabilities	—		1.4

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2012		2011
Fees received by the Company as compensation included in service revenues	$	2.9	$	2.9	$	8.7	$	8.2
Fees received by the Company as compensation included in equipment revenues	9.8		4.9		24.1		16.2
Fees paid by the Company for services and related expenses included in cost of service	—		3.3		3.6		9.6
Fees paid by the Company for services included in selling, general and administrative expenses	1.9		0.6		4.7		3.2
DAS equipment depreciation included in depreciation expense	—		8.7		9.6		27.2
Capital lease interest included in interest expense	—		4.9		5.2		14.3

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011
Capital lease payments included in financing activities	$	1.4	$	5.5

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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
REVENUES:
Service revenues	$ 1,121,957	$ 1,131,054	$ 3,439,678	$ 3,294,563
Equipment revenues	137,203	74,334	377,252	314,654
Total revenues	1,259,160	1,205,388	3,816,930	3,609,217
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of service (excluding depreciation and amortization expense of $142,892, $120,362, $408,852 and $347,645 shown separately below)	373,032	382,033	1,130,377	1,089,480
Cost of equipment	265,940	343,473	1,002,726	1,095,269
Selling, general and administrative expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization expense of $20,197, $18,947, $60,406 and $54,883 shown separately below)	163,409	162,459	507,497	486,786
Depreciation and amortization	163,089	139,309	469,258	402,528
Loss (gain) on disposal of assets	1,452	1,283	4,618	2,731
Total operating expenses	966,922	1,028,557	3,114,476	3,076,794
Income from operations	292,238	176,831	702,454	532,423
OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME):
Interest expense	66,655	69,511	206,224	193,051
Interest income	(460)	(531)	(1,208)	(1,557)
Other (income) expense, net	(105)	(93)	(418)	(534)
Gain on settlement	(52,500)	0	(52,500)	0
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	0	0	9,536
Total other expense	(13,590)	(68,887)	(152,098)	(200,496)
Income before provision for income taxes	278,648	107,944	550,356	331,927
Provision for income taxes	(85,981)	(38,618)	(187,849)	(121,887)
Net income	192,667	69,326	362,507	210,040
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities, net of tax of $49, $25, $100 and $127, respectively	3,512	40	3,593	204
Unrealized losses on cash flow hedging derivatives, net of tax benefit of $1,002, $5,790, $3,608 and $13,713, respectively	(1,748)	(9,286)	(5,913)	(22,060)
Reclassification adjustment for gains on available-for-sale securities included in net income, net of tax of $33, $47, $58 and $169, respectively	56	75	96	272
Reclassification adjustment for losses on cash flow hedging derivatives included in net income, net of tax benefit of $1,301, $2,468, $4,324 and $6,587, respectively	(2,254)	(3,956)	(7,086)	(10,596)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	3,962	(5,365)	4,670	(11,532)
Comprehensive income	$ 196,629	$ 63,961	$ 367,177	$ 198,508
Net income per common share:
Basic	$ 0.53	$ 0.19	$ 0.99	$ 0.58
Diluted	$ 0.52	$ 0.19	$ 0.99	$ 0.57
Weighted average shares:
Basic	363,584,552	362,019,205	363,190,434	359,763,082
Diluted	365,019,836	364,865,226	364,440,115	363,717,798

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Supplemental Balance Sheet Information

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]

Supplemental Balance Sheet Information

Supplemental Balance Sheet Information:

	September 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
	(in thousands)
Other current liabilities:
Deferred vendor credits (1)	$	40,209	$	—
Derivative liabilities	13,630		11,644
Other	12,305		13,568
	$	66,144	$	25,212

 ————————————

(1) Deferred vendor credits consists of credit memos received from a vendor that will be earned upon the return of certain network equipment.

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Intangible Assets

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Intangible Assets

Intangible Assets:

The Company operates wireless broadband mobile networks under licenses granted by the FCC for a particular geographic area on spectrum allocated by the FCC for terrestrial wireless broadband services. The Company holds personal communications services (“PCS”) licenses, advanced wireless services (“AWS”) licenses, 700 MHz licenses and microwave licenses granted or acquired on various dates. The PCS licenses previously included, and the AWS licenses currently include, the obligation and resulting costs to relocate existing fixed microwave users of the Company's licensed spectrum if the Company's use of its spectrum interferes with their systems and/or reimburse other carriers (according to FCC rules) that relocated prior users if the relocation benefits the Company's system. Accordingly, the Company incurs costs related to microwave relocation in constructing its PCS and AWS networks. FCC Licenses and related microwave relocation costs are recorded at cost.

The change in the carrying value of intangible assets during the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 is as follows (in thousands):

	FCC Licenses		Microwave Relocation Costs
Balance at January 1, 2012	$	2,513,770	$	25,271
Additions	21,946		1,328
Disposals	—		—
Balance at September 30, 2012	$	2,535,716	$	26,599

Although PCS, AWS, 700 MHz and microwave licenses are issued with a stated term between ten and fifteen years, the renewal of PCS, AWS, 700 MHz and microwave licenses is generally a routine matter without substantial cost and the Company has determined that no legal, regulatory, contractual, competitive, economic, or other factors currently exist that limit the useful life of its PCS, AWS, 700 MHz and microwave licenses. As such, under the provisions of ASC 350, (Topic 350, “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other”), the Company's PCS, AWS, 700 MHz and microwave licenses and microwave relocation costs (collectively, the "indefinite-lived intangible assets") are not amortized because they are considered to have indefinite lives, but are tested at least annually for impairment.

In accordance with the requirements of ASC 350, the Company performs its annual indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment test as of each September 30 or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets might be impaired. The impairment test consists of a comparison of estimated fair value with the carrying value. The Company estimates the fair value of its indefinite-lived intangible assets using a direct value methodology. The direct value approach determines fair value using a discounted cash flow model. Cash flow projections involve assumptions by management that include a degree of uncertainty, including future cash flows, long-term growth rates, appropriate discount rates, and other inputs. The Company believes that its estimates are consistent with assumptions that marketplace participants would use to estimate fair value. An impairment loss would be recorded as a reduction in the carrying value of the related indefinite-lived intangible assets and charged to results of operations.

For the purpose of performing the annual impairment test as of September 30, 2012, the indefinite-lived intangible assets were aggregated and combined into a single unit of accounting, consistent with the management of the business on a national scope. No impairment was recognized as a result of the test performed at September 30, 2012 as the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets was in excess of the carrying value. Although the Company does not expect its estimates or assumptions to change significantly in the future, the use of different estimates or assumptions within the discounted cash flow model when determining the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets or using a methodology other than a discounted cash flow model could result in different values for the indefinite-lived intangible assets and may affect any related impairment charge. The most significant assumptions within the Company's discounted cash flow model are the discount rate, the projected growth rate, and projected cash flows. A one percent decline in annual revenue, a one percent decline in annual net cash flows or a one percent increase in discount rate would not result in an impairment as of September 30, 2012.

Furthermore, if any of the indefinite-lived intangible assets are subsequently determined to have a finite useful life, such assets would be tested for impairment in accordance with ASC 360 (Topic 360, “Property, Plant, and Equipment”), and the intangible assets would then be amortized prospectively over the estimated remaining useful life.

Other Spectrum Acquisitions

During the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012, the Company closed on the acquisition of microwave spectrum in the net aggregate amount of $21.9 million in cash.

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Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Fair Values of Derivative Instruments

Fair Values of Derivative Instruments

(in thousands)	Liability Derivatives
	As of September 30, 2012				As of December 31, 2011
	Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value			Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815
Interest rate protection agreements	Other current liabilities	$	(13,630	)	Other current liabilities	$	(11,644	)
Interest rate protection agreements	Other long-term liabilities	(5,496		)	Other long-term liabilities	(9,371		)
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815		$	(19,126	)		$	(21,015	)

Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income

The Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

Derivatives in ASC 815 Cash Flow Hedging Relationships	Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in OCI on Derivative (Effective Portion)						Location of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income (Effective Portion)	Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income (Effective Portion)
	2012			2011				2012			2011
Interest rate protection agreements	$	(2,751	)	$	(15,076	)	Interest expense	$	(3,555	)	$	(6,424	)

The Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

Derivatives in ASC 815 Cash Flow Hedging Relationships	Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in OCI on Derivative (Effective Portion)						Location of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income (Effective Portion)	Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income (Effective Portion)
	2012			2011				2012			2011
Interest rate protection agreements	$	(9,521	)	$	(35,774	)	Interest expense	$	(11,410	)	$	(17,182	)

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Guarantor Subsidiaries

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Guarantor Subsidiaries [Abstract]

Guarantor Subsidiaries

Guarantor Subsidiaries:

In connection with Wireless’ 7 ⁷/8% Senior Notes, 6 ⁵/8% Senior Notes, and the Senior Secured Credit Facility, MetroPCS, together with its wholly owned subsidiaries, MetroPCS, Inc., and each of Wireless’ direct and indirect present and future wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries (the “guarantor subsidiaries”), provided guarantees which are full and unconditional as well as joint and several. Certain provisions of the Senior Secured Credit Facility, and the indentures and the supplemental indentures relating to the 7 ⁷/8% Senior Notes and 6 ⁵/8% Senior Notes restrict the ability of Wireless to loan funds or make payments to MetroPCS or MetroPCS, Inc. However, Wireless is allowed to make certain permitted payments to MetroPCS under the terms of the Senior Secured Credit Facility, and the indentures and the supplemental indentures relating to the 7 ⁷/8% Senior Notes and 6 ⁵/8% Senior Notes.

The following information presents condensed consolidating balance sheet information as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, condensed consolidating statement of income and comprehensive income information for the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 and 2011, and condensed consolidating statement of cash flows information for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 and 2011 of the parent company (MetroPCS), the issuer (Wireless), and the guarantor subsidiaries. Investments in subsidiaries held by the parent company and the issuer have been presented using the equity method of accounting.

Subsequent to the issuance of the Company's consolidated financial statements on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2011, management identified certain errors in the presentation of the condensed consolidating statement of cash flows information contained in this footnote. The errors were the result of certain cash equivalent money market investments being incorrectly reported in the Parent column of the condensed consolidating balance sheet information that should have been reported in the Issuer column at September 30, 2011 which resulted in a cash inflow from changes in advances from affiliates being reported in the Parent column and a corresponding cash outflow from changes in advances from affiliates being reported in the Issuer column of the condensed consolidating statement of cash flows information. Accordingly, the comparative historical condensed consolidating statement of cash flows information presented herein has been corrected. The "Guarantor Subsidiaries" and "Consolidated" columns were not impacted by these corrections. This reporting error did not have any impact on the Company's condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011. The impact to the comparative historical condensed consolidating statement of cash flows for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011 is as follows:

	Parent As Previously Reported	Parent As Corrected	Issuer As Previously Reported		Issuer As Corrected	Eliminations As Previously Reported		Eliminations As Corrected
	(in thousands)
Change in advances - affiliates	679,885	18,039	(689,633	)	264,367	9,748		(282,406	)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	755,096	93,250	(760,364	)	193,636	9,478		(282,406	)
Change in advances - affiliates	292,154	—	—		—	(9,748	)	282,406
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	346,461	54,307	942,493		942,493	(9,748	)	282,406
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,102,487	148,487	(58,237	)	895,763	—		—
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	1,610,336	656,336	229,705		1,183,705	—		—

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet Information

As of September 30, 2012

	Parent		Issuer		Guarantor Subsidiaries		Eliminations			Consolidated
	(in thousands)
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	515,380	$	1,541,231	$	728	$	—		$	2,057,339
Short-term investments	507,943		—		—		—			507,943
Inventories	—		295,287		17,345		—			312,632
Prepaid expenses	89		2,421		77,530		—			80,040
Advances to subsidiaries	695,842		—		—		(695,842		)	—
Other current assets	67		194,567		32,234		—			226,868
Total current assets	1,719,321		2,033,506		127,837		(695,842		)	3,184,822
Property and equipment, net	—		1,017		4,196,382		—			4,197,399
Long-term investments	1,679		—		—		—			1,679
Investment in subsidiaries	1,607,677		5,417,110		—		(7,024,787		)	—
FCC licenses	—		3,800		2,558,515		—			2,562,315
Other assets	—		97,689		30,183		(2,178		)	125,694
Total assets	$	3,328,677	$	7,553,122	$	6,912,917	$	(7,722,807	)	$	10,071,909
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Advances from subsidiaries	—		260,898		434,944		(695,842		)	—
Other current liabilities	—		246,594		538,056		—			784,650
Total current liabilities	—		507,492		973,000		(695,842		)	784,650
Long-term debt, net	—		4,419,692		311,482		—			4,731,174
Deferred credits	6,230		1,004,818		133,272		(2,178		)	1,142,142
Other long-term liabilities	—		13,443		78,053		—			91,496
Total liabilities	6,230		5,945,445		1,495,807		(698,020		)	6,749,462
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common stock	36		—		—		—			36
Other stockholders’ equity	3,322,411		1,607,677		5,417,110		(7,024,787		)	3,322,411
Total stockholders’ equity	3,322,447		1,607,677		5,417,110		(7,024,787		)	3,322,447
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	3,328,677	$	7,553,122	$	6,912,917	$	(7,722,807	)	$	10,071,909

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet Information

As of December 31, 2011

	Parent		Issuer		Guarantor Subsidiaries		Eliminations			Consolidated
	(in thousands)
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	657,289	$	1,285,266	$	727	$	—		$	1,943,282
Short-term investments	299,972		—		—		—			299,972
Inventories	—		226,124		13,524		—			239,648
Prepaid expenses	—		386		55,326		—			55,712
Advances to subsidiaries	671,193		245,866		—		(917,059		)	—
Other current assets	96		179,855		25,028		—			204,979
Total current assets	1,628,550		1,937,497		94,605		(917,059		)	2,743,593
Property and equipment, net	—		1,378		4,016,621		—			4,017,999
Long-term investments	6,319		—		—		—			6,319
Investment in subsidiaries	1,297,957		4,728,985		—		(6,026,942		)	—
FCC licenses	—		3,800		2,535,241		—			2,539,041
Other assets	—		137,985		39,612		(1,618		)	175,979
Total assets	$	2,932,826	$	6,809,645	$	6,686,079	$	(6,945,619	)	$	9,482,931
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Advances from subsidiaries	—		—		917,059		(917,059		)	—
Other current liabilities	—		243,247		573,476		—			816,723
Total current liabilities	—		243,247		1,490,535		(917,059		)	816,723
Long-term debt, net	—		4,437,924		273,097		—			4,711,021
Deferred credits	5,226		813,498		120,028		(1,618		)	937,134
Other long-term liabilities	—		17,019		73,434		—			90,453
Total liabilities	5,226		5,511,688		1,957,094		(918,677		)	6,555,331
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common stock	36		—		—		—			36
Other stockholders’ equity	2,927,564		1,297,957		4,728,985		(6,026,942		)	2,927,564
Total stockholders’ equity	2,927,600		1,297,957		4,728,985		(6,026,942		)	2,927,600
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	2,932,826	$	6,809,645	$	6,686,079	$	(6,945,619	)	$	9,482,931

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income Information

Three Months Ended September 30, 2012

	Parent			Issuer			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	(in thousands)
REVENUES:
Total Revenues	$	—		$	9,026		$	1,257,474		$	(7,340	)	$	1,259,160
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of revenues	—			8,263			638,049			(7,340		)	638,972
Selling, general and administrative expenses	—			763			162,646			—			163,409
Other operating expenses	—			53			164,488			—			164,541
Total operating expenses	—			9,079			965,183			(7,340		)	966,922
(Loss) income from operations	—			(53		)	292,291			—			292,238
OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME):
Interest expense	—			62,798			3,857			—			66,655
Non-operating (income) expenses	(52,911		)	(3		)	(151		)	—			(53,065		)
Earnings from consolidated subsidiaries	(139,756		)	(287,870		)	—			427,626			—
Total other (income) expense	(192,667		)	(225,075		)	3,706			427,626			13,590
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	192,667			225,022			288,585			(427,626		)	278,648
Provision for income taxes	—			(85,266		)	(715		)	—			(85,981		)
Net income (loss)	$	192,667		$	139,756		$	287,870		$	(427,626	)	$	192,667
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	3,962			506			—			(506		)	3,962
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	196,629		$	140,262		$	287,870		$	(428,132	)	$	196,629

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income Information

Three Months Ended September 30, 2011

	Parent			Issuer			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	(in thousands)
REVENUES:
Total Revenues	$	—		$	4,558		$	1,208,170		$	(7,340	)	$	1,205,388
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of revenues	—			4,180			728,666			(7,340		)	725,506
Selling, general and administrative expenses	—			378			162,081			—			162,459
Other operating expenses	—			91			140,501			—			140,592
Total operating expenses	—			4,649			1,031,248			(7,340		)	1,028,557
(Loss) income from operations	—			(91		)	176,922			—			176,831
OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME):
Interest expense	—			64,750			4,761			—			69,511
Non-operating (income) expenses	(452		)	(47		)	(125		)	—			(624		)
Earnings from consolidated subsidiaries	(68,874		)	(171,801		)	—			240,675			—
Total other (income) expense	(69,326		)	(107,098		)	4,636			240,675			68,887
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	69,326			107,007			172,286			(240,675		)	107,944
Provision benefit for income taxes	—			(38,133		)	(485		)	—			(38,618		)
Net income (loss)	$	69,326		$	68,874		$	171,801		$	(240,675	)	$	69,326
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	(5,365		)	(5,330		)	—			5,330			(5,365		)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	63,961		$	63,544		$	171,801		$	(235,345	)	$	63,961

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income Information

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012

	Parent			Issuer			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	(in thousands)
REVENUES:
Total Revenues	$	—		$	22,264		$	3,816,686		$	(22,020	)	$	3,816,930
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of revenues	—			21,165			2,133,958			(22,020		)	2,133,103
Selling, general and administrative expenses	—			1,099			506,398			—			507,497
Other operating expenses	—			167			473,709			—			473,876
Total operating expenses	—			22,431			3,114,065			(22,020		)	3,114,476
(Loss) income from operations	—			(167		)	702,621			—			702,454
OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME):
Interest expense	—			191,080			15,144			—			206,224
Non-operating (income) expenses	(53,643		)	(8		)	(475		)	—			(54,126		)
Earnings from consolidated subsidiaries	(308,864		)	(688,126		)	—			996,990			—
Total other (income) expense	(362,507		)	(497,054		)	14,669			996,990			152,098
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	362,507			496,887			687,952			(996,990		)	550,356
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	—			(188,023		)	174			—			(187,849		)
Net income (loss)	$	362,507		$	308,864		$	688,126		$	(996,990	)	$	362,507
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	4,670			1,173			—			(1,173		)	4,670
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	367,177		$	310,037		$	688,126		$	(998,163	)	$	367,177

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income Information

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011

	Parent			Issuer			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	(in thousands)
REVENUES:
Total Revenues	$	—		$	15,483		$	3,616,464		$	(22,730	)	$	3,609,217
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of revenues	—			14,389			2,193,090			(22,730		)	2,184,749
Selling, general and administrative expenses	—			1,094			485,692			—			486,786
Other operating expenses	—			245			405,014			—			405,259
Total operating expenses	—			15,728			3,083,796			(22,730		)	3,076,794
(Loss) income from operations	—			(245		)	532,668			—			532,423
OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME):
Interest expense	—			180,044			13,007			—			193,051
Non-operating (income) expenses	(1,439		)	9,462			(578		)	—			7,445
Earnings from consolidated subsidiaries	(208,601		)	(521,670		)	—			730,271			—
Total other (income) expense	(210,040		)	(332,164		)	12,429			730,271			200,496
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	210,040			331,919			520,239			(730,271		)	331,927
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	—			(123,318		)	1,431			—			(121,887		)
Net income (loss)	$	210,040		$	208,601		$	521,670		$	(730,271	)	$	210,040
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	(11,532		)	(11,464		)	—			11,464			(11,532		)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	198,508		$	197,137		$	521,670		$	(718,807	)	$	198,508

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows Information

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012

	Parent			Issuer			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	(in thousands)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$	938		$	(311,239	)	$	1,158,769		$	—		$	848,468
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property and equipment	—			(443		)	(587,889		)	—			(588,332		)
Purchase of investments	(692,147		)	—			—			—			(692,147		)
Proceeds from maturity of investments	492,500			—			—			—			492,500
Change in advances – affiliates	4,382			245,866			—			(250,248		)	—
Other investing activities, net	52,500			39,830			(22,101		)	—			70,229
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(142,765		)	285,253			(609,990		)	(250,248		)	(717,750		)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Change in advances – affiliates	—			291,862			(542,110		)	250,248			—
Change in book overdraft	—			9,131			—			—			9,131
Other financing activities, net	(82		)	(19,042		)	(6,668		)	—			(25,792		)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(82		)	281,951			(548,778		)	250,248			(16,661		)
(DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(141,909		)	255,965			1			—			114,057
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	657,289			1,285,266			727			—			1,943,282
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	$	515,380		$	1,541,231		$	728		$	—		$	2,057,339

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows Information

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011

	Parent			Issuer			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	(in thousands)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$	930		$	(240,366	)	$	993,096		$	—		$	753,660
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property and equipment	—			(5,790		)	(693,835		)	—			(699,625		)
Purchase of investments	(462,289		)	—			—			—			(462,289		)
Proceeds from maturity of investments	537,500			—			—			—			537,500
Change in advances - affiliates	18,039			264,367			—			(282,406		)	—
Other investing activities, net	—			(64,941		)	(10,653		)	—			(75,594		)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	93,250			193,636			(704,488		)	(282,406		)	(700,008		)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Change in advances - affiliates	—			—			(282,406		)	282,406			—
Change in book overdraft	—			14,081			—			—			14,081
Proceeds from debt issuance, net of discount	—			1,497,500			—			—			1,497,500
Retirement of long-term debt	—			(535,792		)	—			—			(535,792		)
Other financing activities, net	54,307			(33,296		)	(6,222		)	—			14,789
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	54,307			942,493			(288,628		)	282,406			990,578
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	148,487			895,763			(20		)	—			1,044,230
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	507,849			287,942			740			—			796,531
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	$	656,336		$	1,183,705		$	720		$	—		$	1,840,761

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Net Income Per Common Share

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Net Income Per Common Share

Net Income Per Common Share:

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income per common share for the periods indicated (in thousands, except share and per share data):

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
Basic EPS:
Net income applicable to common stock	$	192,667		$	69,326		$	362,507		$	210,040
Amount allocable to common shareholders	99.5		%	99.1		%	99.4		%	99.1		%
Rights to undistributed earnings	$	191,617		$	68,686		$	360,166		$	208,106
Weighted average shares outstanding—basic	363,584,552			362,019,205			363,190,434			359,763,082
Net income per common share—basic	$	0.53		$	0.19		$	0.99		$	0.58
Diluted EPS:
Rights to undistributed earnings	$	191,617		$	68,686		$	360,166		$	208,106
Weighted average shares outstanding—basic	363,584,552			362,019,205			363,190,434			359,763,082
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options	1,435,284			2,846,021			1,249,681			3,954,716
Weighted average shares outstanding—diluted	365,019,836			364,865,226			364,440,115			363,717,798
Net income per common share—diluted	$	0.52		$	0.19		$	0.99		$	0.57

In accordance with ASC 260 (Topic 260, “Earnings Per Share”), unvested share-based payment awards that contain rights to receive non-forfeitable dividends or dividend equivalents, whether paid or unpaid, are considered a “participating security” for purposes of computing earnings or loss per common share and the two-class method of computing earnings per share is required for all periods presented. Under certain of the Company's restricted stock award agreements, unvested shares of restricted stock have rights to receive non-forfeitable dividends. In accordance with ASC 260, those unvested restricted stock awards are considered a “participating security” for purposes of computing earnings per common share and are therefore included in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share.

For the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company has calculated diluted earnings per share under both the treasury stock method and the two-class method. There was not a significant difference in the per share amounts calculated under the two methods, and the two-class method is disclosed. For the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012, approximately 2.0 million and 2.4 million of restricted common shares issued to employees have been excluded from the computation of basic net income per common share since the shares are not vested and remain subject to forfeiture. For the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2011, approximately 3.4 million of restricted common shares issued to employees were excluded from the computation of basic net income per common share since the shares were not vested and remained subject to forfeiture.

For the three months endedSeptember 30, 2012 and 2011, 25.6 million and 18.5 million, respectively, of stock options were excluded from the calculation of diluted net income per common share since the effect was anti-dilutive. For the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 and 2011, 25.3 million and 17.8 million, respectively, of stock options were excluded from the calculation of diluted net income per common share since the effect was anti-dilutive.

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Long-term Debt

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Long-term Debt

Long-term Debt:

Long-term debt consisted of the following (in thousands):

	September 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
Senior Secured Credit Facility	$	2,452,873		$	2,471,916
7 7/8% Senior Notes	1,000,000			1,000,000
6 5/8% Senior Notes	1,000,000			1,000,000
Capital Lease Obligations	322,204			281,167
Total long-term debt	4,775,077			4,753,083
Add: unamortized discount on debt	(7,791		)	(8,602		)
Total debt	4,767,286			4,744,481
Less: current maturities	(36,112		)	(33,460		)
Total long-term debt	$	4,731,174		$	4,711,021

7 ⁷/8% Senior Notes due 2018

In September 2010, Wireless completed the sale of $1.0 billion of principal amount of 7 ⁷/8% Senior Notes due 2018 (“7 ⁷/8% Senior Notes”). The terms of the 7 ⁷/8% Senior Notes are governed by the indenture, the first supplemental indenture, dated September 21, 2010, and the third supplemental indenture, dated December 23, 2010, among Wireless, the guarantors party thereto and the trustee. The net proceeds of the sale of the 7 ⁷/8% Senior Notes were $974.0 million after underwriter fees, discounts and other debt issuance costs of $26.0 million.

6 ⁵/8% Senior Notes due 2020

In November 2010, Wireless completed the sale of $1.0 billion of principal amount of 6 ⁵/8% Senior Notes due 2020 (“6 ⁵/8% Senior Notes”). The terms of the 6 ⁵/8% Senior Notes are governed by the indenture, the second supplemental indenture, dated November 17, 2010, and the fourth supplemental indenture, dated December 23, 2010, among Wireless, the guarantors party thereto and the trustee. The net proceeds of the sale of the 6 ⁵/8% Senior Notes were $988.1 million after underwriter fees, discounts and other debt issuance costs of approximately $11.9 million.

Senior Secured Credit Facility

In November 2006, Wireless entered into the senior secured credit facility, which consisted of a $1.6 billion term loan facility and a $100.0 million revolving credit facility. The term loan facility was repayable in quarterly installments in annual aggregate amounts equal to 1% of the initial aggregate principal amount of $1.6 billion.

In July 2010, Wireless entered into an Amendment and Restatement and Resignation and Appointment Agreement (the “Amendment”) which amended and restated the senior secured credit facility to, among other things, extend the maturity of $1.0 billion of existing term loans (“Tranche B-2 Term Loans”) under the senior secured credit facility to November 2016, increase the interest rate to LIBOR plus 3.50% on the extended portion only and reduce the revolving credit facility from $100.0 million to $67.5 million. The remaining term loans (“Tranche B-1 Term Loans”) under the senior secured credit facility were to mature in November 2013 and the interest rate continued to be LIBOR plus 2.25%. This modification did not result in a loss on extinguishment of debt.

In March 2011, Wireless entered into an Amendment and Restatement Agreement (the “New Amendment”) which further amended and restated the Senior Secured Credit Facility. The New Amendment amended the Senior Secured Credit Facility to, among other things, provide for a new tranche of term loans in the amount of $500.0 million (“Tranche B-3 Term Loans”), with an interest rate of LIBOR plus 3.75% which will mature in March 2018, and increase the interest rate to LIBOR plus 3.821% on the existing Tranche B-1 Term Loans and Tranche B-2 Term Loans. The Tranche B-3 Term Loans are repayable in quarterly installments of $1.25 million. In addition, the aggregate amount of the revolving credit facility was increased from $67.5 million to $100.0 million and the maturity of the revolving credit facility was extended to March 2016. The net proceeds from the Tranche B-3 Term Loans were $490.2 million after underwriter fees, discounts and other debt issuance costs of approximately $9.8 million.

The New Amendment also modified certain limitations under the Senior Secured Credit Facility, including limitations on Wireless' ability to incur additional debt, make certain restricted payments, sell assets, make certain investments or acquisitions, grant liens and pay dividends. In addition, Wireless is no longer subject to certain financial covenants, including maintaining a maximum senior secured consolidated leverage ratio, except under certain circumstances.

In May 2011, Wireless entered into an Incremental Commitment Agreement (the “Incremental Agreement”) which supplements the Senior Secured Credit Facility to provide for an additional $1.0 billion of Tranche B-3 Term Loans (the “Incremental Tranche B-3 Terms Loans”). The Incremental Tranche B-3 Term Loans have an interest rate of LIBOR plus 3.75% and will mature in March 2018. The Incremental Tranche B-3 Term Loans are repayable in quarterly installments of $2.5 million. A portion of the proceeds from the Incremental Tranche B-3 Term Loans was used to prepay the $535.8 million in outstanding principal under the Tranche B-1 Term Loans, with the remaining proceeds to be used for general corporate purposes, including opportunistic spectrum acquisitions. The net proceeds from the Incremental Tranche B-3 Term Loans were $455.5 million after prepayment of the Tranche B-1 Term Loans, underwriter fees, and other debt issuance costs of approximately $7.9 million. The prepayment of the Tranche B-1 Term Loans resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt in the amount of $9.5 million. The Incremental Agreement did not modify the interest rate, maturity date or any of the other terms of the Senior Secured Credit Facility applicable to the Tranche B-2 Term Loans or the existing Tranche B-3 Term Loans.

The facilities under the Senior Secured Credit Facility are guaranteed by MetroPCS, MetroPCS, Inc. and each of Wireless’ direct and indirect present and future wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries. The Senior Secured Credit Facility contains customary events of default, including cross-defaults. The obligations under the Senior Secured Credit Facility are also secured by the capital stock of Wireless as well as substantially all of Wireless’ present and future assets and the capital stock and substantially all of the assets of each of its direct and indirect present and future wholly-owned subsidiaries (except as prohibited by law and certain permitted exceptions).

The interest rate on the outstanding debt under the Senior Secured Credit Facility is variable. The weighted average rate as of September 30, 2012 was 4.614%, which includes the impact of the interest rate protection agreements (See Note 4).

Capital Lease Obligations

The Company has entered into various non-cancelable capital lease agreements, with varying expiration terms through 2027. Assets and future obligations related to capital leases are included in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets in property and equipment and long-term debt, respectively. Depreciation of assets held under capital leases is included in depreciation and amortization expense. As of September 30, 2012, the Company had $10.7 million and $311.5 million of capital lease obligations recorded in current maturities of long-term debt and long-term debt, respectively.

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Fair Value Measurements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements:

The Company follows the provisions of ASC 820 (Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures”) which establishes a three-tiered fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation techniques used in fair value calculations. The three levels of inputs are defined as follows:

• Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Company has the ability to access.

• Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets; or valuations based on models where the significant inputs are observable (e.g., interest rates, yield curves, prepayment speeds, default rates, loss severities, etc.) or can be corroborated by observable market data.

• Level 3 - Valuations based on models where significant inputs are not observable. The unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use.

ASC 820 requires the Company to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. If a financial instrument uses inputs that fall in different levels of the hierarchy, the instrument will be categorized based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value calculation. The Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis include cash and cash equivalents, short and long-term investments securities and derivative financial instruments.

Included in the Company’s cash equivalents are investments in money market funds consisting of U.S. Treasury securities with an original maturity of 90 days or less. Included in the Company’s short-term investments are securities classified as available-for-sale, which are stated at fair value. These securities include U.S. Treasury securities with an original maturity of over 90 days. Fair value is determined based on observable quotes from banks and unadjusted quoted market prices from identical securities in an active market at the reporting date. Significant inputs to the valuation are observable in the active markets and are classified as Level 1 in the hierarchy.

Included in the Company’s short-term and long-term investments are certain auction rate securities, some of which are secured by collateralized debt obligations with a portion of the underlying collateral being mortgage securities or related to mortgage securities. Due to the lack of availability of observable market quotes on the Company’s investment portfolio of auction rate securities, the fair value was estimated based on valuation models that rely exclusively on unobservable Level 3 inputs including those that are based on expected cash flow streams and collateral values, including assessments of counterparty credit quality, default risk underlying the security, discount rates and overall capital market liquidity. The valuation of the Company’s investment portfolio is subject to uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Factors that may impact the Company’s valuation include changes to credit ratings of the securities as well as the underlying assets supporting those securities, rates of default of the underlying assets, underlying collateral values, discount rates, counterparty risk and ongoing strength and quality of market credit and liquidity. Significant inputs to the investments valuation are unobservable in the active markets and are classified as Level 3 in the hierarchy.

Included in the Company’s derivative financial instruments are interest rate swaps. Derivative financial instruments are valued in the market using discounted cash flow techniques. These techniques incorporate Level 1 and Level 2 inputs such as interest rates. These market inputs are utilized in the discounted cash flow calculation considering the instrument’s term, notional amount, discount rate and credit risk. Significant inputs to the derivative valuation for interest rate swaps are observable in the active markets and are classified as Level 2 in the hierarchy.

The following table summarizes assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 30, 2012, as required by ASC 820 (in thousands):

	Fair Value Measurements
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets
Cash equivalents	$	1,903,369	$	—	$	—	$	1,903,369
Short-term investments	499,874		—		8,069		507,943
Restricted cash and investments	2,076		—		—		2,076
Long-term investments	—		—		1,679		1,679
Total assets measured at fair value	$	2,405,319	$	—	$	9,748	$	2,415,067
Liabilities
Derivative liabilities	$	—	$	19,126	$	—	$	19,126
Total liabilities measured at fair value	$	—	$	19,126	$	—	$	19,126

The following table summarizes assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2011, as required by ASC 820 (in thousands):

	Fair Value Measurements
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets
Cash equivalents	$	1,815,538	$	—	$	—	$	1,815,538
Short-term investments	299,972		—		—		299,972
Restricted cash and investments	2,576		—		—		2,576
Long-term investments	—		—		6,319		6,319
Total assets measured at fair value	$	2,118,086	$	—	$	6,319	$	2,124,405
Liabilities
Derivative liabilities	$	—	$	21,015	$	—	$	21,015
Total liabilities measured at fair value	$	—	$	21,015	$	—	$	21,015

The following table summarizes the changes in fair value of the Company’s net derivative liabilities included in Level 2 assets (in thousands):

Fair Value Measurements of Net Derivative Liabilities Using Level 2 Inputs	Net Derivative Liabilities
	Three Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011
Beginning balance	$	19,930		$	18,249
Total losses (realized or unrealized):
Included in earnings (1)	3,555			6,424
Included in accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,751		)	(15,076		)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 2	—			—
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements	—			—
Ending balance	$	19,126		$	26,901

 ————————————

(1) Losses included in earnings that are attributable to the reclassification of the effective portion of those derivative liabilities still held at the reporting date as reported in interest expense in the condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

Fair Value Measurements of Net Derivative Liabilities Using Level 2 Inputs	Net Derivative Liabilities
	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011
Beginning balance	$	21,015		$	8,309
Total losses (realized or unrealized):
Included in earnings (2)	11,410			17,182
Included in accumulated other comprehensive loss	(9,521		)	(35,774		)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 2	—			—
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements	—			—
Ending balance	$	19,126		$	26,901

 ————————————

(2) Losses included in earnings that are attributable to the reclassification of the effective portion of those derivative liabilities still held at the reporting date as reported in interest expense in the condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

The following table summarizes the changes in fair value of the Company’s Level 3 assets (in thousands):

Fair Value Measurements of Assets Using Level 3 Inputs	Investments
	Three Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011
Beginning balance	$	6,319	$	6,319
Total losses (realized or unrealized):
Included in earnings	—		—
Included in accumulated other comprehensive loss	3,429		—
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3	—		—
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements	—		—
Ending balance	$	9,748	$	6,319

Fair Value Measurements of Assets Using Level 3 Inputs	Investments
	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011
Beginning balance	$	6,319	$	6,319
Total losses (realized or unrealized):
Included in earnings	—		—
Included in accumulated other comprehensive loss	3,429		—
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3	—		—
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements	—		—
Ending balance	$	9,748	$	6,319

The carrying value of the Company’s financial instruments, with the exception of long-term debt including current maturities, reasonably approximate the related fair values as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011. The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt, excluding capital lease obligations, is estimated based on the quoted market prices for the same issues or on the current rates offered to the Company for debt of the same remaining maturities and are classified as Level 1 in the hierarchy. As of September 30, 2012, the carrying value and fair value of long-term debt, including current maturities, were approximately $4.5 billion and $4.6 billion, respectively. As of December 31, 2011, the carrying value and fair value of long-term debt, including current maturities, were approximately $4.5 billion and $4.4 billion, respectively.

Although the Company has determined the estimated fair value amounts using available market information and commonly accepted valuation methodologies, considerable judgment is required in interpreting market data to develop fair value estimates. The fair value estimates are generally based on information available at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011.  As such, the Company’s estimates are not necessarily indicative of the amount that the Company, or holders of the instruments, could realize in a current market exchange and current estimates of fair value could differ significantly.

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Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies:

The Company has entered into a broadband services agreement with a carrier for backhaul and interconnect facilities at specified prices. The term of this agreement expires in 2017. The minimum commitment under this pricing agreement is approximately $164.1 million.

Pricing Agreements

The Company entered into pricing agreements with a handset manufacturer for the purchase of wireless handsets at specified prices. These agreements expire on various dates through December 31, 2012. The total aggregate commitment outstanding under these pricing agreements is approximately $24.2 million as of September 30, 2012.

Gain on Settlement

In September 2012, the Company settled arbitration and litigation proceedings related to certain securities.  Pursuant to the terms of the confidential settlement agreement, the Company received $52.5 million in cash in exchange for the release of all current and future claims that the Company may have relating to the sale of such securities to the Company, and the Company retains the rights to sell its investment in such securities at a later date.

Litigation

The Company is involved in litigation from time to time, including litigation regarding intellectual property claims, that it considers to be in the normal course of business. Legal proceedings are inherently unpredictable, and the legal proceedings in which the Company is involved often present complex legal and factual issues. The Company intends to vigorously defend against litigation in which it is involved and, where appropriate, engage in discussions to resolve these legal proceedings on terms favorable to the Company. The Company believes that any amounts which parties to such litigation allege it is liable for are not necessarily meaningful indicators of potential liability or any relief, such as injunctive relief, which parties to such litigation seek, are not necessarily meaningful indicators whether such relief will be granted. The Company determines whether it should accrue an estimated loss for a contingency in a particular legal proceeding by assessing whether a loss is probable and can be reasonably estimated. The Company reassesses its views on estimated losses on a quarterly basis to reflect the impact of any developments in the legal proceedings in which it is involved. It is possible, however, that the business, financial condition, results of operations, and liquidity in future periods could be materially adversely affected by increased expenses, including legal and litigation expenses, significant settlement costs, relief granted or agreed to, and/or unfavorable damage awards relating to such legal proceedings. Other than the matters listed below the Company is not currently party to any pending legal proceedings that it believes could, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

MetroPCS, its Board of directors, and an officer, among others, (collectively, the "defendants") have been named as defendants in a series of putative shareholder class and/or derivative actions filed in Delaware and Texas (the “Merger Litigation”) relating to the entry into a Business Combination Agreement, dated October 3, 2012 (the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and between Deutsche Telekom AG, an Aktiengesellschaft organized in Germany (“Deutsche Telekom”), T-Mobile Global Zwischenholding GmbH, a Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung organized in Germany and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom (“Global”), T-Mobile Global Holding GmbH, a Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung organized in Germany and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Global (“Holding”), T-Mobile USA, Inc., a Delaware corporation and direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Holding (“T-Mobile”) and the Company wherein MetroPCS agreed to (1) engage in a recapitalization which entails a reverse stock split and cash payment to shareholders, (2) take Deutsche Telekom's interest in T-Mobile, and (3) issue stock to Deutsche Telekom (the “Transaction”). The Merger Litigation includes: (i) a putative class action lawsuit filed by Paul Benn, an alleged MetroPCS shareholder, on October 11, 2012 in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware, Civil Action No. 7938 (the “Benn Action”); (ii) a putative class action lawsuit filed by Joseph Marino, an alleged MetroPCS shareholder, on October 11, 2012 in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware, Civil Action No. 7940 (the “Marino Action”) (the Benn Action and Marino Actions together, the “Delaware Merger Actions”); (iii) a putative class action and shareholder derivative action filed by Adam Golovoy, an alleged MetroPCS shareholder, on October 10, 2012 in the County Court at Law No. 1, Dallas County, Texas, Civil Action No. CC-12-06144 (the “Golovoy Action”); and (iv) a putative class action and shareholder derivative action filed by Nagendra Polu and Fred Lorquet, who are alleged MetroPCS shareholders, on October 10, 2012 in the County Court at Law No. 5, Dallas County, Texas, Civil Action No. CC-12-06170 (the “Polu-Lorquet Action”) (the Golovoy Action and Polu-Lorquet Actions together, the “Texas Merger Actions”). The various plaintiffs in the Merger Litigation allege that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties by failing to obtain sufficient value for MetroPCS shareholders in the Transaction, to establish a process that adequately protected the interests of MetroPCS shareholders, and to adequately ensure that no conflicts of interest occurred. The plaintiffs in the Merger Litigation also allege that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties by agreeing to certain terms in the Business Combination Agreement that allegedly restricted the defendants' ability to obtain a more favorable offer, including the “no solicitation,” “superior proposal,” and termination fee provisions, and that those provisions, together with the Company's Rights Agreement and a Support Agreement between Deutsche Telekom and Madison Dearborn Partners, constitute breaches of the defendants' fiduciary duties. The plaintiffs in the Merger Litigation seek injunctive relief, unspecified compensatory and/or rescissory damages, unspecified punitive damages, attorney's fees, other expenses, and costs. All of the plaintiffs in the Merger Litigation seek a determination that their alleged claims may be asserted on a class-wide basis. In addition, the plaintiffs in the Texas Merger Actions also assert putative derivative claims, as shareholders on behalf of the Company, against the individually named defendants for breach of fiduciary duty, abuse of control, gross mismanagement, unjust enrichment and corporate waste in connection with the Transaction. Additional similar putative class and/or derivative suits may be filed. Due to the complex nature of the legal and factual issues involved in these actions, the outcome is not presently determinable. If the various actions in the Merger Litigation were to proceed beyond the pleading stage, MetroPCS could be required to incur substantial defense costs and expenses and/or be required to pay substantial damages or settlement costs, and could divert management's attention, all of which could materially adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition and operating results. The Company intends to vigorously defend against the claims in the Merger Litigation.

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Short-term Investments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Amortized Cost	$ 500,948		$ 299,946
Unrealized Gain in Accumulated OCI	7,001		32
Unrealized Loss in Accumulated OCI	(6)		(6)
Aggregate Fair Value	507,943		299,972
Proceeds from sale of investments	492,500	537,500
Equity securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Amortized Cost	7		7
Unrealized Gain in Accumulated OCI	0		0
Unrealized Loss in Accumulated OCI	(6)		(6)
Aggregate Fair Value	1		1
U.S. Treasury securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Amortized Cost	499,731		299,939
Unrealized Gain in Accumulated OCI	142		32
Unrealized Loss in Accumulated OCI	0		0
Aggregate Fair Value	499,873		299,971
Auction rate securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Amortized Cost	1,210
Unrealized Gain in Accumulated OCI	6,859
Unrealized Loss in Accumulated OCI	0
Aggregate Fair Value	8,069
Subsequent Event
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities
Proceeds from sale of investments	$ 8,100

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Guarantor Subsidiaries Schedule of Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 2,057,339	$ 1,943,282	$ 1,840,761	$ 796,531
Short-term investments	507,943	299,972
Inventories	312,632	239,648
Prepaid expenses	80,040	55,712
Advances to subsidiaries	0	0
Other current assets	226,868	204,979
Total current assets	3,184,822	2,743,593
Property and equipment, net	4,197,399	4,017,999
Long-term investments	1,679	6,319
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
FCC licenses	2,562,315	2,539,041
Other assets	125,694	175,979
Total assets	10,071,909	9,482,931
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Advances from subsidiaries	0	0
Other current liabilities	784,650	816,723
Total current liabilities	784,650	816,723
Long-term debt, net	4,731,174	4,711,021
Deferred credits	1,142,142	937,134
Other long-term liabilities	91,496	90,453
Total liabilities	6,749,462	6,555,331
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Common stock	36	36
Other stockholders’ equity	3,322,411	2,927,564
Total stockholders’ equity	3,322,447	2,927,600
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	10,071,909	9,482,931
Parent
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	515,380	657,289	656,336	507,849
Short-term investments	507,943	299,972
Inventories	0	0
Prepaid expenses	89	0
Advances to subsidiaries	695,842	671,193
Other current assets	67	96
Total current assets	1,719,321	1,628,550
Property and equipment, net	0	0
Long-term investments	1,679	6,319
Investment in subsidiaries	1,607,677	1,297,957
FCC licenses	0	0
Other assets	0	0
Total assets	3,328,677	2,932,826
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Advances from subsidiaries	0	0
Other current liabilities	0	0
Total current liabilities	0	0
Long-term debt, net	0	0
Deferred credits	6,230	5,226
Other long-term liabilities	0	0
Total liabilities	6,230	5,226
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Common stock	36	36
Other stockholders’ equity	3,322,411	2,927,564
Total stockholders’ equity	3,322,447	2,927,600
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	3,328,677	2,932,826
Issuer
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	1,541,231	1,285,266	1,183,705	287,942
Short-term investments	0	0
Inventories	295,287	226,124
Prepaid expenses	2,421	386
Advances to subsidiaries	0	245,866
Other current assets	194,567	179,855
Total current assets	2,033,506	1,937,497
Property and equipment, net	1,017	1,378
Long-term investments	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	5,417,110	4,728,985
FCC licenses	3,800	3,800
Other assets	97,689	137,985
Total assets	7,553,122	6,809,645
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Advances from subsidiaries	260,898	0
Other current liabilities	246,594	243,247
Total current liabilities	507,492	243,247
Long-term debt, net	4,419,692	4,437,924
Deferred credits	1,004,818	813,498
Other long-term liabilities	13,443	17,019
Total liabilities	5,945,445	5,511,688
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Common stock	0	0
Other stockholders’ equity	1,607,677	1,297,957
Total stockholders’ equity	1,607,677	1,297,957
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	7,553,122	6,809,645
Guarantor Subsidiaries
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	728	727	720	740
Short-term investments	0	0
Inventories	17,345	13,524
Prepaid expenses	77,530	55,326
Advances to subsidiaries	0	0
Other current assets	32,234	25,028
Total current assets	127,837	94,605
Property and equipment, net	4,196,382	4,016,621
Long-term investments	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
FCC licenses	2,558,515	2,535,241
Other assets	30,183	39,612
Total assets	6,912,917	6,686,079
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Advances from subsidiaries	434,944	917,059
Other current liabilities	538,056	573,476
Total current liabilities	973,000	1,490,535
Long-term debt, net	311,482	273,097
Deferred credits	133,272	120,028
Other long-term liabilities	78,053	73,434
Total liabilities	1,495,807	1,957,094
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Common stock	0	0
Other stockholders’ equity	5,417,110	4,728,985
Total stockholders’ equity	5,417,110	4,728,985
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	6,912,917	6,686,079
Eliminations
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Short-term investments	0	0
Inventories	0	0
Prepaid expenses	0	0
Advances to subsidiaries	(695,842)	(917,059)
Other current assets	0	0
Total current assets	(695,842)	(917,059)
Property and equipment, net	0	0
Long-term investments	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	(7,024,787)	(6,026,942)
FCC licenses	0	0
Other assets	(2,178)	(1,618)
Total assets	(7,722,807)	(6,945,619)
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Advances from subsidiaries	(695,842)	(917,059)
Other current liabilities	0	0
Total current liabilities	(695,842)	(917,059)
Long-term debt, net	0	0
Deferred credits	(2,178)	(1,618)
Other long-term liabilities	0	0
Total liabilities	(698,020)	(918,677)
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Common stock	0	0
Other stockholders’ equity	(7,024,787)	(6,026,942)
Total stockholders’ equity	(7,024,787)	(6,026,942)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ (7,722,807)	$ (6,945,619)

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Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Consolidation Policy

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements include the balances and results of operations of MetroPCS Communications, Inc. (“MetroPCS”) and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”).

Basis of Accounting Policy

The condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income and cash flows for the periods ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, and the related footnotes are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

Use of Estimates Policy

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of certain assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Segment Reporting Policy

The Company has thirteen operating segments based on geographic regions within the United States: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Orlando/Jacksonville, Philadelphia, Sacramento, San Francisco and Tampa/Sarasota. In accordance with the provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 280 (Topic 280, “Segment Reporting”), the Company aggregates its thirteen operating segments into one reportable segment.

Gross and Net Revenue Presentation Policy

Federal Universal Service Fund (“FUSF”), E-911 and various other fees are assessed by various governmental authorities in connection with the services that the Company provides to its customers. The Company offers a family of service plans, which include all applicable taxes and regulatory fees (“tax inclusive plans”). The Company reports regulatory fees for the tax inclusive plans in cost of service on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income. When the Company separately assesses these regulatory fees on its customers for those service plans that do not include taxes or regulatory fees, the Company reports these regulatory fees on a gross basis in service revenues and cost of service on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income. For the three months endedSeptember 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company recorded $9.3 million and $16.8 million, respectively, of FUSF, E-911 and other fees on a gross basis. For the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company recorded $34.5 million and $52.3 million, respectively, of FUSF, E-911 and other fees on a gross basis. Sales, use and excise taxes for all service plans are reported on a net basis in selling, general and administrative expenses on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Policy

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2012, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2012-02, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment," allowing entities to make a qualitative evaluation about the likelihood of impairment of an indefinite-lived intangible asset to determine whether the quantitative test is required, as opposed to required annual quantitative impairment testing.  The amendment was effective for interim and annual impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012.  Early adoption is permitted. The Company did not elect to utilize a qualitative assessment and has performed the annual quantitative impairment test as of September 30, consistent with prior years.  The implementation of this standard is not expected to affect the Company's financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

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Long-term Debt (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Long-term Debt

Long-term debt consisted of the following (in thousands):

	September 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
Senior Secured Credit Facility	$	2,452,873		$	2,471,916
7 7/8% Senior Notes	1,000,000			1,000,000
6 5/8% Senior Notes	1,000,000			1,000,000
Capital Lease Obligations	322,204			281,167
Total long-term debt	4,775,077			4,753,083
Add: unamortized discount on debt	(7,791		)	(8,602		)
Total debt	4,767,286			4,744,481
Less: current maturities	(36,112		)	(33,460		)
Total long-term debt	$	4,731,174		$	4,711,021

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Related-Party Transactions (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Related Party Transactions
Network service fees included in prepaid expenses	$ 80,040		$ 80,040		$ 55,712
Related-party receivables included in other current assets	52,349		52,349		44,772
DAS equipment included in property and equipment, net	4,197,399		4,197,399		4,017,999
Deferred network service fees included in other assets	123,618		123,618		173,403
Payments due to related-party included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	450,087		450,087		512,346
Related-party capital lease obligations in current maturities of long-term debt	36,112		36,112		33,460
Related-party capital lease obligations in long-term debt	4,731,174		4,731,174		4,711,021
Deferred DAS service fees in other long-term liabilities	91,496		91,496		90,453
Related-party fees recognized in service revenues	1,121,957	1,131,054	3,439,678	3,294,563
Related-party fees recognized in equipment revenue	137,203	74,334	377,252	314,654
Related-party fees recognized in cost of service	373,032	382,033	1,130,377	1,089,480
Related-party fees recognized in selling, general, and administrative expenses	163,409	162,459	507,497	486,786
DAS equipment depreciation in depreciation expense	163,089	139,309	469,258	402,528
Related-party capital lease interest expense	66,655	69,511	206,224	193,051
Related-party capital lease payments in financing activities			6,668	6,222
Affiliate
Related Party Transactions
Network service fees included in prepaid expenses	0		0		1,500
Related-party receivables included in other current assets	3,500		3,500		700
DAS equipment included in property and equipment, net	0		0		383,100
Deferred network service fees included in other assets	0		0		8,200
Payments due to related-party included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	6,000		6,000		6,600
Related-party capital lease obligations in current maturities of long-term debt	0		0		7,100
Related-party capital lease obligations in long-term debt	0		0		240,100
Deferred DAS service fees in other long-term liabilities	0		0		1,400
Related-party fees recognized in service revenues	2,900	2,900	8,700	8,200
Related-party fees recognized in equipment revenue	9,800	4,900	24,100	16,200
Related-party fees recognized in cost of service	0	3,300	3,600	9,600
Related-party fees recognized in selling, general, and administrative expenses	1,900	600	4,700	3,200
DAS equipment depreciation in depreciation expense	0	8,700	9,600	27,200
Related-party capital lease interest expense	0	4,900	5,200	14,300
Related-party capital lease payments in financing activities			$ 1,400	$ 5,500

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Long-term Debt Instruments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		1 Months Ended				1 Months Ended			1 Months Ended				1 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010 Amendment July 2010 - Senior Secured Credit Facility	Sep. 30, 2010 7 7/8% Senior Notes	Nov. 30, 2010 6 5/8% Senior Notes	Sep. 30, 2012 Term Loans - Senior Secured Credit Facility	Nov. 30, 2006 Term Loans - Senior Secured Credit Facility Senior Secured Credit Facility - November 2006	Jul. 31, 2010 Tranche B-1	Jul. 31, 2010 Tranche B-1 Senior Secured Credit Facility - November 2006	May 31, 2011 Tranche B-1 Incremental Agreement May 2011 - Senior Secured Credit Facility	Jul. 31, 2010 Tranche B-2 Amendment July 2010 - Senior Secured Credit Facility	Mar. 31, 2011 Tranche B-3 Amendment March 2011 - Senior Secured Credit Facility	Mar. 31, 2011 Tranche B-1 and Tranche B-2 Amendment March 2011 - Senior Secured Credit Facility	May 31, 2011 Incremental Tranche B-3 Incremental Agreement May 2011 - Senior Secured Credit Facility	Nov. 30, 2006 Revolver - Senior Secured Credit Facility Senior Secured Credit Facility - November 2006	Jul. 31, 2010 Revolver - Senior Secured Credit Facility Amendment July 2010 - Senior Secured Credit Facility	Mar. 31, 2011 Revolver - Senior Secured Credit Facility Amendment March 2011 - Senior Secured Credit Facility
Debt Instrument
Principal Amount						$ 1,000,000,000	$ 1,000,000,000		$ 1,600,000,000					$ 500,000,000		$ 1,000,000,000
Maturity Date						Sep. 01, 2018	Nov. 15, 2020			Nov. 03, 2013			Nov. 03, 2016	Mar. 17, 2018		Mar. 17, 2018			Mar. 17, 2016
Outstanding Principal Amended													1,000,000,000
Proceeds from Issuance						974,000,000	988,100,000							490,200,000
Debt Issuance Fees						26,000,000	11,900,000							9,800,000		7,900,000
Stated Interest Rate						7.875%	6.625%
Maximum Borrowing Capacity																	100,000,000	67,500,000	100,000,000
Basis Spread on Variable Rate											2.25%		3.50%	3.75%	3.821%	3.75%
Periodic Payment - Annual Aggregate Percent of Principal									1.00%
Periodic Payment Amount														1,250,000		2,500,000
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount												535,800,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	0	0	9,536,000	0							9,500,000
Net Proceeds from Issuance and Repayment of Debt																455,500,000
Weighted Average Interest Rate								4.614%
Capital Lease Obligations, Current	10,700,000		10,700,000
Capital Lease Obligations, Noncurrent	$ 311,500,000		$ 311,500,000

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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income Parentheticals (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Depreciation and amortization	$ 163,089	$ 139,309	$ 469,258	$ 402,528
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities, taxes	49	25	100	127
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedging derivatives, taxes	(1,002)	(5,790)	(3,608)	(13,713)
Reclassification adjustment for sale of available-for-sale securities included in net income, taxes	(33)	(47)	(58)	(169)
Reclassification adjustment on cash flow hedging derivatives included in net income, taxes	1,301	2,468	4,324	6,587
Cost of Service
Depreciation and amortization	142,892	120,362	408,852	347,645
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Depreciation and amortization	$ 20,197	$ 18,947	$ 60,406	$ 54,883

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Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities:

In October 2010, MetroPCS Wireless, Inc. (“Wireless”) entered into three separate two-year interest rate protection agreements to manage its interest rate risk exposure under Wireless’ senior secured credit facility, as amended (the “Senior Secured Credit Facility”). These agreements were effective on February 1, 2012 and cover a notional amount of $950.0 million and effectively convert this portion of Wireless’ variable rate debt to fixed rate debt at a weighted average annual rate of 4.908%. These agreements expire on February 1, 2014.

In April 2011, Wireless entered into three separate three-year interest rate protection agreements to manage its interest rate risk exposure under its Senior Secured Credit Facility. These agreements were effective on April 15, 2011 and cover a notional amount of $450.0 million and effectively convert this portion of Wireless’ variable rate debt to fixed rate debt at a weighted average annual rate of 5.242%. These agreements expire on April 15, 2014.

Interest rate protection agreements are entered into to manage interest rate risk associated with Wireless’ variable-rate borrowings under the Senior Secured Credit Facility. The interest rate protection agreements have been designated as cash flow hedges. If a derivative is designated as a cash flow hedge and the hedging relationship qualifies for hedge accounting under the provisions of ASC 815 (Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging”), the effective portion of the change in fair value of the derivative is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and reclassified to interest expense in the period in which the hedged transaction affects earnings. The ineffective portion of the change in fair value of a derivative qualifying for hedge accounting is recognized in earnings in the period of the change. For the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2012, the change in fair value did not result in ineffectiveness.

At the inception of the cash flow hedges and quarterly thereafter, the Company performs an assessment to determine whether changes in the fair values or cash flows of the derivatives are deemed highly effective in offsetting changes in the fair values or cash flows of the hedged transaction. If at any time subsequent to the inception of the cash flow hedges, the assessment indicates that the derivative is no longer highly effective as a hedge, the Company will discontinue hedge accounting and recognize all subsequent derivative gains and losses in results of operations. The Company estimates that approximately $13.6 million of net losses that are reported in accumulated other comprehensive loss at September 30, 2012 are expected to be reclassified into earnings within the next 12 months.

Cross-default Provisions

Wireless’ interest rate protection agreements contain cross-default provisions to its Senior Secured Credit Facility. Wireless’ Senior Secured Credit Facility allows interest rate protection agreements to become secured if the counterparty to the agreement is a current lender under the Senior Secured Credit Facility. If Wireless were to default on the Senior Secured Credit Facility, it would trigger these provisions, and the counterparties to the interest rate protection agreements could request immediate payment on interest rate protection agreements in net liability positions, similar to their existing rights as a lender. There are no collateral requirements in the interest rate protection agreements. The aggregate fair value of interest rate protection agreements with cross-default provisions that are in a net liability position as of September 30, 2012 is $19.1 million.

Fair Values of Derivative Instruments

(in thousands)	Liability Derivatives
	As of September 30, 2012				As of December 31, 2011
	Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value			Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815
Interest rate protection agreements	Other current liabilities	$	(13,630	)	Other current liabilities	$	(11,644	)
Interest rate protection agreements	Other long-term liabilities	(5,496		)	Other long-term liabilities	(9,371		)
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815		$	(19,126	)		$	(21,015	)

The Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

Derivatives in ASC 815 Cash Flow Hedging Relationships	Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in OCI on Derivative (Effective Portion)						Location of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income (Effective Portion)	Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income (Effective Portion)
	2012			2011				2012			2011
Interest rate protection agreements	$	(2,751	)	$	(15,076	)	Interest expense	$	(3,555	)	$	(6,424	)

The Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

Derivatives in ASC 815 Cash Flow Hedging Relationships	Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in OCI on Derivative (Effective Portion)						Location of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income (Effective Portion)	Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income (Effective Portion)
	2012			2011				2012			2011
Interest rate protection agreements	$	(9,521	)	$	(35,774	)	Interest expense	$	(11,410	)	$	(17,182	)

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Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Schedule of Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis

The following table summarizes assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 30, 2012, as required by ASC 820 (in thousands):

	Fair Value Measurements
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets
Cash equivalents	$	1,903,369	$	—	$	—	$	1,903,369
Short-term investments	499,874		—		8,069		507,943
Restricted cash and investments	2,076		—		—		2,076
Long-term investments	—		—		1,679		1,679
Total assets measured at fair value	$	2,405,319	$	—	$	9,748	$	2,415,067
Liabilities
Derivative liabilities	$	—	$	19,126	$	—	$	19,126
Total liabilities measured at fair value	$	—	$	19,126	$	—	$	19,126

The following table summarizes assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2011, as required by ASC 820 (in thousands):

	Fair Value Measurements
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets
Cash equivalents	$	1,815,538	$	—	$	—	$	1,815,538
Short-term investments	299,972		—		—		299,972
Restricted cash and investments	2,576		—		—		2,576
Long-term investments	—		—		6,319		6,319
Total assets measured at fair value	$	2,118,086	$	—	$	6,319	$	2,124,405
Liabilities
Derivative liabilities	$	—	$	21,015	$	—	$	21,015
Total liabilities measured at fair value	$	—	$	21,015	$	—	$	21,015

Fair Value, Derivatives Measured On Recurring Basis Observable Input Reconciliation

The following table summarizes the changes in fair value of the Company’s net derivative liabilities included in Level 2 assets (in thousands):

Fair Value Measurements of Net Derivative Liabilities Using Level 2 Inputs	Net Derivative Liabilities
	Three Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011
Beginning balance	$	19,930		$	18,249
Total losses (realized or unrealized):
Included in earnings (1)	3,555			6,424
Included in accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,751		)	(15,076		)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 2	—			—
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements	—			—
Ending balance	$	19,126		$	26,901

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(1) Losses included in earnings that are attributable to the reclassification of the effective portion of those derivative liabilities still held at the reporting date as reported in interest expense in the condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

Fair Value Measurements of Net Derivative Liabilities Using Level 2 Inputs	Net Derivative Liabilities
	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011
Beginning balance	$	21,015		$	8,309
Total losses (realized or unrealized):
Included in earnings (2)	11,410			17,182
Included in accumulated other comprehensive loss	(9,521		)	(35,774		)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 2	—			—
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements	—			—
Ending balance	$	19,126		$	26,901

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(2) Losses included in earnings that are attributable to the reclassification of the effective portion of those derivative liabilities still held at the reporting date as reported in interest expense in the condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation

The following table summarizes the changes in fair value of the Company’s Level 3 assets (in thousands):

Fair Value Measurements of Assets Using Level 3 Inputs	Investments
	Three Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011
Beginning balance	$	6,319	$	6,319
Total losses (realized or unrealized):
Included in earnings	—		—
Included in accumulated other comprehensive loss	3,429		—
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3	—		—
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements	—		—
Ending balance	$	9,748	$	6,319

Fair Value Measurements of Assets Using Level 3 Inputs	Investments
	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011
Beginning balance	$	6,319	$	6,319
Total losses (realized or unrealized):
Included in earnings	—		—
Included in accumulated other comprehensive loss	3,429		—
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3	—		—
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements	—		—
Ending balance	$	9,748	$	6,319

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Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets Rollforward
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, beginning balance	$ 2,539,041,000
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, ending balance	2,562,315,000
Impairment of indefinited-lived intangible assets	0
Payments to Acquire Intangible Assets	22,998,000	4,003,000
FCC Licenses
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets Rollforward
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, beginning balance	2,513,770,000
Additions	21,946,000
Disposals	0
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, ending balance	2,535,716,000
Payments to Acquire Intangible Assets	21,900,000
Microwave Relocation Costs
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets Rollforward
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, beginning balance	25,271,000
Additions	1,328,000
Disposals	0
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, ending balance	$ 26,599,000

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Subsequent Events

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Subsequent Events [Abstract]

Subsequent Events

Subsequent Events:

Business Combination Agreement

On October 3, 2012, the Company entered into the Business Combination Agreement with Deutsche Telekom, Global, Holding and T-Mobile.

 Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Business Combination Agreement, the Company has agreed (i) to effect a recapitalization and reverse stock split (the “Reverse Stock Split”) of the Company's common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), pursuant to which each share of Company common stock, par value $0.00001 per share ("New Common Stock") outstanding as of the effective time of the Reverse Stock Split (the “Effective Time”) will thereafter represent one-half of a share of Common Stock and (ii) as part of such recapitalization, to make a payment in cash (the “Cash Payment”) in an amount equal to $1.5 billion, without interest, in the aggregate to the Company's stockholders of record immediately following the Effective Time. Immediately following the Cash Payment, Holding will deliver to the Company all of its interest in T-Mobile ("the "T-Mobile Stock Acquisition") and the Company will issue and deliver to Holding or its designee shares of Common Stock equal to 74% of the fully-diluted shares of New Common Stock outstanding immediately following the Cash Payment (on a grossed-up basis to take into account the number of shares of New Common Stock so issued to Holding or its designee) (the “Stock Issuance,” and collectively with the Reverse Stock Split, the Cash Payment, and the T-Mobile Stock Acquisition, the “Transaction”). On the business day immediately following the closing of the Transaction (the “Closing”), MetroPCS, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“HoldCo”), will merge with and into MetroPCS Wireless, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of HoldCo (“Wireless”), with Wireless continuing as the surviving entity. Immediately thereafter, Wireless will merge with and into T-Mobile, with T-Mobile continuing as the surviving entity.

Completion of the Transaction is subject to certain conditions, including: (i) obtaining the approvals from the Company's stockholders to the stock issuance and the amended and restated articles of incorporation effecting the reverse stock split ("Required Approvals"), (ii) obtaining listing approvals from the New York Stock Exchange in connection with the Stock Issuance, (iii) the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, (iv) receipt of Federal Communications Commission and other material governmental consents and approvals required to consummate the Transaction, (v) the termination of any review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States with respect to the Transaction, and (vi) the absence of any statute, rule, executive order, regulation, order or injunction prohibiting the consummation of the Transaction. The obligation of each of the parties to consummate the Transaction is also conditioned upon the accuracy of the other party's representations and warranties, the other party having performed in all material respects its obligations under the Business Combination Agreement and no circumstances occurring that would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the other party.

The Business Combination Agreement grants both the Company and Deutsche Telekom the right to terminate the Business Combination Agreement under certain circumstances. Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, the Company will be obligated to pay Deutsche Telekom a termination fee of $150.0 million if (a) Deutsche Telekom terminates the Business Combination Agreement because there has been a change in the MetroPCS board of directors recommendation ("Recommendation Change"), (b) the Company or Deutsche Telekom terminates the Business Combination Agreement because the Required Approvals are not obtained following (i) a material breach by the Company of the covenants requiring the Company to file the proxy statement, call and hold the stockholders meeting, not solicit alternative transaction proposals or continue to recommend that its stockholders deliver the Required Approvals or (ii) a Recommendation Change, and (c) the Company or Deutsche Telekom terminates the Business Combination Agreement because the Required Approvals are not obtained (other than under the circumstances described in the immediately preceding sentence) or because the outside date has passed, and (i) an alternative transaction proposal has been made and is pending at the time of termination and, within twelve months after such termination, the Company enters into, publicly approves or submits to its stockholders for approval, an agreement with respect to an alternative transaction, or it consummates an alternative transaction (which in each case need not be the same proposal or with the same party that made the earlier proposal), or (ii) an alternative transaction proposal has been made but was withdrawn prior to the stockholder meeting at which the Company's stockholders voted not to grant the Required Approvals and, within twelve months after such termination, the Company enters into, publicly approves or submits to its stockholders for approval, an agreement with respect to an alternative transaction with the same party that made the earlier proposal that had been withdrawn. If the Business Combination Agreement is terminated due solely to a failure to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals, Deutsche Telekom must pay the Company a $250.0 million termination fee.