A consumer watchdog group is trying to delay the removal of the final hurdle for Charter Communications' (NASDAQ: CHTR) takeover of Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC).
With the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) set to vote on the deal today, The Office of Ratepayer Advocates says conditions tied to an administrative law judge's recommendation to the PUC to approve the deal don't go far enough.
According to Ratepayer Advocagtes rep Ana Maria Johnson, the judge recommended that "New Charter" not be allowed to impose data caps for three years, while the FCC's condition called for seven years with no caps.
"It shouldn't be less than what the FCC requires," Johnson told website CTFN (sub. req.).
The watchdog group said the judge's mandates are also "insufficient" in regard to broadband deployment and forced arbitration of disputes.
With the FCC and Justice Department already issuing conditional approvals of Charter's deals for TWC and Bright House Networks, the PUC is the last remaining vote.
However, any of the five PUC commissioners can demand that the vote be held until May 26.
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