Much as they disagreed on whether the FCC should have reclassified broadband as a common carrier service and impose tough new net neutrality rules, supporters and opponents of the February order disagree on how likely it is that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit will issue a stay of the reclassification order and an Internet conduct rule. Public interest group officials express confidence that the order will survive and no stay will come from the court. Lawyers on the other side say a stay is often hard to get, but the order is so sweeping a stay is a strong possibility. Telco/cable groups have asked the court to impose a stay before the order takes effect June 12.
Charter Communications’ planned buy of Bright House Networks and Time Warner Cable doesn’t face the same regulatory hurdles as Comcast/TWC, said industry officials, analysts and public interest groups. But they don’t agree on the new deals' prospects, according to interviews and statements Tuesday. Charter CEO Tom Rutledge is “confident” regulators will sign off on the deal, he said on an investor call Tuesday. “We’re a very different company than Comcast.” Comcast/TWC opponent Free Press said Charter/BHN and TWC doesn’t offer a public interest benefit, which FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler highlighted in his statement.
Charter Communications’ planned buy of Bright House Networks and Time Warner Cable doesn’t face the same regulatory hurdles as Comcast/TWC, said industry officials, analysts and public interest groups. But they don’t agree on the new deals' prospects, according to interviews and statements Tuesday. Charter CEO Tom Rutledge is “confident” regulators will sign off on the deal, he said on an investor call Tuesday. “We’re a very different company than Comcast.” Comcast/TWC opponent Free Press said Charter/BHN and TWC doesn’t offer a public interest benefit, which FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler highlighted in his statement.
An FCC Enforcement Bureau public notice is an early window into how the agency will handle many net neutrality issues, addressing them on a case-by-case basis (see 1505200059), industry observers told us. Wednesday's PN said more guidance may be forthcoming, but for now the Enforcement Bureau will look at whether providers are taking “reasonable, good-faith steps” to comply with privacy protections in Section 222 of the Communications Act. The rules take effect June 12.
An FCC Enforcement Bureau public notice is an early window into how the agency will handle many net neutrality issues, addressing them on a case-by-case basis (see 1505200059), industry observers told us. Wednesday's PN said more guidance may be forthcoming, but for now the Enforcement Bureau will look at whether providers are taking “reasonable, good-faith steps” to comply with privacy protections in Section 222 of the Communications Act. The rules take effect June 12.
Democrats on Capitol Hill want the FCC to seize its existing powers over broadcast disclosure of political ad payment sources, highlighting the issue in several pointed statements in recent days and noting the looming 2016 presidential election. But even backers of the idea agree that bicameral, partisan measures -- the Keeping Our Campaigns Honest Act (HR-2125) and the Sunshine in Sponsorship Identification Act (S-1260) -- are unlikely to advance in Congress. They want the FCC to act unilaterally.
Democrats on Capitol Hill want the FCC to seize its existing powers over broadcast disclosure of political ad payment sources, highlighting the issue in several pointed statements in recent days and noting the looming 2016 presidential election. But even backers of the idea agree that bicameral, partisan measures -- the Keeping Our Campaigns Honest Act (HR-2125) and the Sunshine in Sponsorship Identification Act (S-1260) -- are unlikely to advance in Congress. They want the FCC to act unilaterally.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit is likely to review legal challenges to the FCC net neutrality order despite petitions filed in two other circuits, though it’s possible another circuit could assert jurisdiction, which could raise uncertainties, attorneys following the case told us. The D.C. Circuit is where the FCC and most of the petitioners want the case heard, where initial petitions were consolidated, where stay requests are expected to be filed, and where previous net neutrality rulings occurred and provide precedent, they said.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit is likely to review legal challenges to the FCC net neutrality order despite petitions filed in two other circuits, though it’s possible another circuit could assert jurisdiction, which could raise uncertainties, attorneys following the case told us. The D.C. Circuit is where the FCC and most of the petitioners want the case heard, where initial petitions were consolidated, where stay requests are expected to be filed, and where previous net neutrality rulings occurred and provide precedent, they said.
Comcast is planning Friday to pull out of its proposed buy of Time Warner Cable, an industry official involved with the transaction told us Thursday. The unraveling of the deal comes in the wake of meetings between Comcast and the FCC Wednesday that indicated an unfavorable view of the deal at the commission, several individuals familiar with the proceedings told us.