The news this week that Comcast and Charter have joined forces on their wireless efforts took some in the industry by surprise, but it looks like it was no shock to Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam. In an analyst meeting Monday, McAdam said Verizon actually encouraged Comcast and Charter – which both have separate MVNO agreements with the wireless carrier − to work together.

“I don’t see any difference in the relationship between Verizon and Comcast and Charter either before or after their announcement,” McAdam comments. “They had the right to work together as an MVNO and frankly we encouraged them to work together because dealing with one customer is a lot better than dealing with multiple customers.”

After the dual Comcast and Charter announcement, analysts started buzzing about what it could all mean for any M&A talks over the next year. That’s because the two cable operators have agreed to a clause in the pact precluding one from working on any wireless deals without the consent of the other for a year.

Prior to the hookup, rumors were floating that Verizon might make a play to acquire Charter at some point. That idea appears to have been squashed – at least for the year-long term of the cable pair’s deal – unless Comcast for some reason would consent to the deal.