Transaction Reviews and the Public Interest

In connection with two significant and simultaneous merger reviews, the Federal Communications Commission’s Media Bureau issued an Order establishing unique protections for the Merger Applicants’ programming contracts, retransmission agreements, and other related materials. This new procedure balances three important public-interest obligations: (i) the FCC’s need for access to highly relevant information about the Applicants’ business practices, (ii) other parties’ need to express informed views to the FCC about the transactions, and (iii) the need to ensure that sensitive competitive information is used solely for that purpose.
[Bill Lake, Chief, Media Bureau; Jon Sallet, General Counsel; and Julie Veach, Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau]


Transaction Reviews and the Public Interest