Yesterday’s Fair Media Council commentary, ‘At Issue: Altice, Cablevision & Long Island’s Future,’ is now in the hands of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as part of the official review proceedings for the proposed acquisition of Cablevision by Luxembourg-based Altice.
Fair Media Council stands opposed to the sale.
FMC’s commentary was submitted by a third-party with expertise in telcom acquisitions around the globe, yet with no connection to Long Island or the Fair Media Council. It was praised for putting into perspective how the concerns raised by industry experts would specifically impact local communities, should the deal be approved.
In part, here is an excerpt on what Boston-based MFRConsulting submitted in regard to the importance of the commentary:
‘It presents the concerns that are relevant to communities in Long Island and throughout Cablevision’s footprint, with reference to circumstances and characteristics that are specific to Long Island’s geographic, demographic and historic market environments. These circumstances include the significant role Cablevision plays in the lives of Long Island residents and communities as well as the importance of the Newsday publication and the TV channel News12 that are included in Altice’s acquisition of its assets.
So in addition to concerns about the future of broadband services the acquisition of Cablevision by Altice raises serious concerns about its impact on media, at least in Long Island.
The FMC article points to Altice’s intransigence with respect to New York City (and indeed dozens of other local franchise authorities) which involves a claim based on a highly questionable interpretation of language in Cablevision’s franchise agreements (forcefully rebutted by New York City) that this acquisition does not involve a transfer of franchise that requires approval from them and the filing of FCC Form 394.
The contents of the FMC article are especially pertinent with respect to the first five requests made by the [FCC’s] Wireline Competition Bureau.’
Among those five requests by the FCC’s bureau is an update on the status of state and municipal regulatory proceedings; the financial status of Cablevision post-transaction and how that will impact Cablevision’s network and customer service; pro forma financials that incorporate Altice’s acquisition of Suddenlink and Cablevision; the impact of Moody’s Investor Service’s downgrade of Altice; and specifics related to Altice’s ability to upgrade Cablevision’s infrastructure.
Also included in the docket filing was media coverage of a strike at one of Altice’s media properties, L’Express, as workers protested significant staff reductions.
Earlier this month, the Fair Media Council filed objections to the deal with the New York State Public Service Commission, citing grave concern for the public interest.