Charter/TWC/BHN Should Have Broadband Conditions, California Group Says
Any regulatory approval of Charter Communications' buying Bright House Networks and Time Warner Cable should come with conditions regarding broadband adoption and deployment, including expansion of eligibility for Charter's $14.99 per month broadband offering, the California Emerging Technology Fund said…
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in an ex parte filing Friday in FCC docket 15-149. CETF said it neither opposes nor backs regulatory approval for the deals, but it does support broadband-related conditions if the FCC gives approval. New Charter should have a goal of broadband adoption by 696,000 to 960,000 low-income California households as a public benefit of the acquisitions, it said. CETF also listed a variety of suggested broadband conditions, including setting of performance goals for New Charter's low-income broadband service with its adoption rate being at 45 percent of eligible households within two years, with the eventual goal of 80 percent adoption. Conditions also should include establishment of an independent fund to aid community-based organizations in increasing broadband adoption, and infrastructure-building plans for 10 unserved and underserved broadband areas "with a particular focus on the Inland Empire, San Joaquin Valley, Salinas Valley (Monterey County) and Modoc County," CETF said. Charter pledged to start a low-income broadband offering open to families with students taking part in the National School Lunch Program and/or senior citizens who receive Supplemental Security Income program benefits (see 1512170070), but eligibility for the $14.99 per month service should "include all low-income households (particularly people with disabilities and veterans)," CETF said, and a wireless router should be included with the program's modem. Charter didn't comment. The filing recapped a meeting between CETF and Commissioner Michael O’Rielly.