FCC Asks SpectrumCo For Docs, CWA Wants Even More

Verizon Wireless may have to wait awhile for the wireless spectrum it plans to buy from Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Bright House (dba SpectrumCo) and Cox Communications. The Federal Communications has asked for some unredacted paperwork regarding the agreements, particularly any language related to cross-selling, to be given over by Monday as the agency continues to ponder any license transfer (click here for more information).

The agency reportedly has promised to keep all the unredacted information under wraps and unavailable to the general public.

Commenting on this development, the Communications Workers of America (CWA) noted, “Until all of the documents are made public, however, there is simply too much that consumers do not know about this deal…it appears that the FCC will allow many redactions important to an understanding of the competitive impact of the transaction to remain. There were 229 redactions in original documents, including in one agreement sections totaling 29 pages, representing one-fifth of the agreement.”

It continues, “The stakes are too high for American consumers not to let the public evaluate how Verizon and these cable companies intend to price all these new products they want to offer. And the FCC cannot let these firms proceed behind a curtain of secrecy; the risk for consumers is simply too great.”