The US’ Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has asked for additional details on the planned US$40bn-plus merger between the nation’s two largest cablecos, Comcast and Time Warner Cable (TWC), as part of its review process.
The FCC, which is…
The US’ Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has asked for additional details on the planned US$40bn-plus merger between the nation’s two largest cablecos, Comcast and Time Warner Cable (TWC), as part of its review process.
The FCC, which is determining whether the deal is in the public interest, sent letters to Comcast, TWC and smaller rival Charter Communications on 21 August requesting written responses and supporting documentation to data requests.
Charter has agreed to buy subscribers from the merging parties and contribute users to a new operator, SpinCo, set to be spun off from Comcast.
The authority, which is working on new net neutrality rules, asked the companies numerous questions about their operations, plans and financial projections. There were multiple queries about their broadband businesses, competitors in the segment and traffic management tools.
These included requests for information on the companies’ “decisions whether to block, stop, throttle, slow, favour, congest or otherwise hinder the transmission of any OVD [online video distributor] service or other content, … or to favour, prioritise or otherwise advantage the company’s relevant service over such competing services”.
There were also questions about customer satisfaction and retention.
The companies’ responses are expected by 11 September. The FCC is also accepting public comments on the planned merger until 8 October. The authority is not expected to make a final ruling until early next year.
The US Department of Justice is also conducting an antitrust review of the deal.
