Altice/Cablevision Object to CWA Seeking Access to Confidential Information
Communications Workers of America requests for access to highly confidential information submitted in the FCC review of Altice's purchase of Cablevision should be denied, the cable companies said in an objection posted Thursday in docket 15-257. CWA last week filed…
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confidentiality acknowledgments for Telecommunications Policy Director Debbie Goldman and consultant Randy Barber. In their joint objection, Altice/Cablevision said neither qualifies as an outside counsel -- by not being a lawyer -- or outside consultant since neither is employed by a noncommercial participant as CWA "quite clearly is a commercial participant in this proceeding [because it] participates in union organizing and collective bargaining activities directly adverse to Cablevision and has been regularly and is currently involved in labor disputes with Cablevision." CWA also represents thousands of workers at Cablevision's chief rival, Verizon, they said. Meanwhile, because a New York Public Service Commission administrative law judge also denied CWA access to sensitive information submitted by Altice/Cablevision, the two said the FCC should take those ALJ decisions into account. CWA didn't comment but Goldman said the union plans to file a response. CWA has been a critic of the proposed deal (see 1601270048).