Signaling the long-awaited ramp-up of its merger review process, the Federal Communications Commission has asked Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA) to provide detailed information on its cable and ISP systems, as well as its interconnection arrangements with various online providers.
Separately, the FCC has denied a request made by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to extend the Monday deadline for public comments about Comcast's proposed $45 billion purchase of Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) until Sept. 8.
Time Warner Cable is the dominant pay TV provider in Los Angeles, with 1.8 million subscribers in that region.
As part of its 50-page request for information from Comcast, the FCC asked the Philadelphia-based company to explain its claim that acquiring TWC will generate "cost saving and other synergies worth approximately $1.5 billion."
The FCC also has inquiries into Comcast's separate but related spin-off venture with Charter Communications (NASDAQ: CHTR).
The FCC has set a Sept. 11 deadline for Comcast to provide the requested data.
For more:
- read this Bloomberg story
- read this FCC docket
- read this Los Angeles Times story
Related links:
Comcast-TWC deal draws 43K public comments as L.A. mayor asks FCC to extend deadline
Comcast's Cohen to regulators: 'Don't make us the next Blockbuster'
AT&T, DirecTV demand that FCC not extend comment period on merger review