NY PSC Should Tighten Charter Settlement Conditions, Consumer Group Says
Charter’s $13 million settlement with New York state about broadband buildout requirements needs work, the Public Utility Law Project (PULP) said in comments posted Tuesday in docket 15-M-0388 at the New York Public Service Commission. The PSC last month sought…
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feedback on the settlement over the company’s failure to meet a cable network buildout condition in the order approving Charter’s acquisition of Time Warner Cable (see 1707070063). “Given that the Settlement Agreement, essentially, retains the buildout timelines of the Merger Approval Order, with the addition of some minor performance enhancement fees, there is no reason to believe that Charter would be more successful in meeting its buildout requirements absent substantive additions to the buildout milestones and oversight process,” PULP said. “The settlement agreement as proposed does not add such enhanced oversight, or more granular buildout milestones.” The PSC should open a rulemaking to make changes, including to strengthen oversight requirements and to require the company to increase frequency of status reports and prioritize underserved areas and low-income households, PULP said.