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Public Benefits at Center of FCC Order on Charter Merger

The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) has released the full text of its Charter – Time Warner Cable – Bright House Networks order, and there are significant conditions relating to two public benefit issues on which the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) commented. To enhance public benefits, the FCC is requiring New Charter to: (1) double its build-out program of broadband infrastructure from 1 million to 2 million households; and (2) develop a 4-year, low-income broadband program for eligible households. Taken together, the FCC holds that these guaranteed benefits will ensure the transactions’ public interest benefits outweigh the harms.