The FCC Media Bureau restarted the merger shot clocks and pleading cycles for the AT&T/DirecTV and Comcast/Time Warner Cable deals on the same day that Dish Network, Public Knowledge and other entities launched their new Stop Mega Comcast Coalition in opposition to that deal. The new group, which also includes content company The Blaze, NTCA, Sports Fan Coalition and others, wants the FCC and Department of Justice to block the Comcast/TWC merger outright, said Public Knowledge President Gene Kimmelman in a conference call Wednesday. “It’s no surprise that the same competitors and special interest groups who’ve gone after Comcast in the past are at it again,” said Comcast in a blog post responding to the coalition launch and FCC announcement of the restarted merger reviews.

Ahead of an FCC oversight hearing next week, Capitol Hill Republicans warned the agency against reclassifying broadband as a Communications Act Title II telecom service. Hill Republicans are widely expected to counter forthcoming FCC net neutrality rules in the next Congress. Some industry lobbyists wonder if lawmakers will revive a tool used to attack the agency’s initial rules in 2011.

Ahead of an FCC oversight hearing next week, Capitol Hill Republicans warned the agency against reclassifying broadband as a Communications Act Title II telecom service. Hill Republicans are widely expected to counter forthcoming FCC net neutrality rules in the next Congress. Some industry lobbyists wonder if lawmakers will revive a tool used to attack the agency’s initial rules in 2011.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit granted an emergency stay request that blocks the FCC from releasing confidential programming and retransmission consent documents to outside counsel connected with the Comcast/Time Warner Cable and AT&T/DirecTV mergers, said a court order released Friday. Though the FCC, the merging companies and Dish Network had argued that such a stay would delay the mergers, the court disagreed: “The agency has access to the relevant documents at issue in this matter and can continue to evaluate the proposed merger during the stay.” The stay is to remain in place until the court rules on a petition for review filed by a group of content companies that includes CBS, Disney and Viacom.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit granted an emergency stay request that blocks the FCC from releasing confidential programming and retransmission consent documents to outside counsel connected with the Comcast/Time Warner Cable and AT&T/DirecTV mergers, said a court order released Friday. Though the FCC, the merging companies and Dish Network had argued that such a stay would delay the mergers, the court disagreed: “The agency has access to the relevant documents at issue in this matter and can continue to evaluate the proposed merger during the stay.” The stay is to remain in place until the court rules on a petition for review filed by a group of content companies that includes CBS, Disney and Viacom.

A court-ordered emergency stay preventing the FCC from releasing confidential programming and retransmission consent contract information to participants in the AT&T/DirecTV and Comcast/Time Warner transaction proceedings is likely to be granted by Monday, several communications attorneys involved in the proceedings told us. In an order issued Nov. 10 rejecting two applications for review and two emergency stay requests (see 1411070048) from a group of content companies that includes 21st Century Fox, CBS, Viacom and Disney, the FCC established Monday, Nov. 17 as the day it would release the video programming confidential information (VPCI) to outside counsel who have filed for confidential access.

A court-ordered emergency stay preventing the FCC from releasing confidential programming and retransmission consent contract information to participants in the AT&T/DirecTV and Comcast/Time Warner transaction proceedings is likely to be granted by Monday, several communications attorneys involved in the proceedings told us. In an order issued Nov. 10 rejecting two applications for review and two emergency stay requests (see 1411070048) from a group of content companies that includes 21st Century Fox, CBS, Viacom and Disney, the FCC established Monday, Nov. 17 as the day it would release the video programming confidential information (VPCI) to outside counsel who have filed for confidential access.

The Media Bureau “usurped” FCC authority by allowing access to video programming confidential information (VPCI) in the Comcast/Time Warner Cable and AT&T/DirecTV deals before an application for review against doing so had been considered by the full commission, said a group of programmers in an application for review and emergency stay request filed Friday. The content companies, which include CBS, Disney and Viacom, had filed an application for review and a stay request against the Media Bureau’s protective order for documents in the transaction proceedings. Friday's additional filings challenge the bureau’s Tuesday modification of that protective order and announcement that most of the programmer’s objections were being dismissed (see 1411050050).

The Media Bureau “usurped” FCC authority by allowing access to video programming confidential information (VPCI) in the Comcast/Time Warner Cable and AT&T/DirecTV deals before an application for review against doing so had been considered by the full commission, said a group of programmers in an application for review and emergency stay request filed Friday. The content companies, which include CBS, Disney and Viacom, had filed an application for review and a stay request against the Media Bureau’s protective order for documents in the transaction proceedings. Friday's additional filings challenge the bureau’s Tuesday modification of that protective order and announcement that most of the programmer’s objections were being dismissed (see 1411050050).

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler likely faces more congressional oversight after Republicans won full control of Congress Tuesday. But it's unclear whether the new Congress will have much effect on FCC decision-making, especially on net neutrality, said Washington insiders, including former FCC officials. Industry officials have speculated Wheeler may seek a net neutrality vote on an order in December, before the new Congress is seated (see 1410270055).