Reactions to Charter-Time Warner Cable Merger Approval
On April 25, the Justice Department announced approval of the Charter-Time Warner Cable merger, with conditions.
Charter reports it is pleased with the news, writing “The conditions that will be imposed ensure Charter’s current consumer-friendly and pro-broadband businesses practices will be maintained by New Charter. We are confident New Charter will be a leading competitor in the broadband and video markets and are optimistic that we will soon receive final approval from federal regulators as well as the California PUC.”
Free Press was not sanguine about the prospects, laying some of the blame at FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler's feet. "Chairman Wheeler has just tarnished his legacy as head of the FCC," said Free Press President Craig Aaron. "As he nears the end of his term, this wasteful merger undermines his oft-stated priority of ‘competition, competition, competition.’ I guess he decided it was time for a new mantra...There’s nothing about this massive merger that serves the public interest. There’s nothing about it that helps make the market for cable TV and Internet services more affordable and competitive for Americans."
Reactions to Charter-Time Warner Cable Merger Approval Charter Communications to Merge with Time Warner Cable and Acquire Bright House Networks (Charter Statement) FCC Moves to Approve Wasteful Cable Merger, Sticking American Consumers with the Bill (Free Press) Feds Approve $78B Charter-TWC Merger, Creating Broadband Colossus (Vice) Proposed Charter, TWC, Bright House Deal Conditions Would Prohibit Interconnection Fees (telecompetitor) Properly Enforced Charter/Time Warner Cable Merger Conditions Should Reduce Harms (Public Knowledge) INCOMPAS Celebrates Charter/TWC Interconnection Condition (INCOMPAS)