Today:  Court Clears Path for AT&T Time Warner, Inc. Merger, Former Commissioner Clyburn Farewell Statement, NTIA Extends Comment Period on International Internet Policy Priorities 

Court Clears Path for AT&T Time Warner, Inc.  Merger with no Conditions

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (Court) rejected the Department of Justice (DoJ) effort to block the acquisition of Time Warner, Inc. by AT&T, Inc.  Senior U.S. District Judge Richard Leon said that in evaluating the strength of the government’s arguments, “the Government has failed to meet its burden to establish that the proposed ‘transaction is likely to lessen competition substantially.” See the complete court opinion here.

Former Commissioner Clyburn Releases Farewell Statement

Former Commissioner Clyburn released a closing statement thanking former President Obama for nominating her in 2009 to the FCC.  The Commissioner also thanked her colleagues, past and present. 

She also listed some decisions that she was honored to make, or influence, in order to safeguard consumers and competition:

• Title II classification of broadband providers and the enactment of strong open internet rules in 2015
• Inmate calling reform
• Circulated proposal to eliminate Sports Blackout Rule
• Formation of the Connect2Health Task Force

Some of the decisions Commissioner Clyburn wishes came out differently:

• Repeal of the Commission’s 2015 Open Internet Order.
• Repeal of rules limiting media consolidation
• Proposed “reforms” in the Lifeline program

NTIA Extends Comment Period on International Internet Policy Priorities

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration  (NTIA)  announced that it has extended the deadline for submitting comments to a request for public comments entitled “International Internet Policy Priorities.” The comment period is extended to July 17, 2018.

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 The Regulatory Mix, Inteserra’s daily blog of telecom related regulatory activities, is a snapshot of PUC, FCC, legislative, and occasionally court issues that our regulatory monitoring team uncovers each day. Depending on their significance, some items may be the subject of an Inteserra Briefing.