In the Courts

As expected, Comcast asked the U.S. Appeals Court in D.C. to reverse the FCC’s denial of the MSO’s request for a waiver of the set-top integration ban (Cfax, Jan 11). Comcast argued that the FCC action was “arbitrary and capricious, an abuse of agency discretion, discriminatory, contrary to law and relevant agency policies, and unsupported by evidence.” Comcast also noted that it took the Commission 503 days to act on its waiver request despite Congress’ instructions that it act on such requests within 90 days. — A Superior Court judge ruled that AT&T can resume signing up new customers for its U-verse service, overturning a ruling that required the telco to follow the same law as cable companies. The judge said AT&T should be able to offer video under the state’s new franchising law to promote video competition. The state’s Dept of Public Utility Control granted AT&T a video franchise on Thurs.