New York regulators revoked their approval of Charter Communications’ merger with Time Warner Cable on Friday, July 27, and ordered the company to find another cable provider for its more than 2 million customers in the state.
The action by the Public Service Commission follows months of disagreements over the company’s progress in meeting goals set by regulators in 2016 as a condition of their merger approval— especially an expansion of broadband to rural areas.
The decision cuts against a broader nationwide trend of consolidation in the telecom and media industries, although it is limited to New York state and does not cover the more than 40 other states in which Charter does business, including Kentucky, Montana, or Texas. The combined Charter-Time Warner Cable operation is the second-largest cable company in the country.
Under the order, Charter has 60 days to come up with a “transition” plan complying with the Commission’s decision. But the order contains few specifics and the company could still seek to challenge it in court.
Full Content: The Washington Post
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