Albany, NY – The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) is seeking comment on a request by Time Warner Cable Inc. (Time Warner Cable) and Comcast Corporation (Comcast) to transfer certain Time Warner Cable telephone systems, cable systems, franchises and assets to Comcast.  Under the proposal, Comcast will acquire 100 percent of Time Warner Cable’s equity in exchange for Comcast Class A shares.  Comcast plans to retain all of Time Warner Cable’s existing assets in New York State. 

As previously announced by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on May 19, 2014, the Commission will use its new regulatory powers to conduct a thorough and detailed investigation into the proposed merger to determine whether the proposed transaction is in the best interest of Time Warner’s New York customers and the State as a whole. Both companies currently provide digital cable television, broadband internet and VoIP telephone services in New York State.  Time Warner serves approximately 2.6 million subscribers statewide while Comcast has 23,000 subscribers in Dutchess, Westchester and Putnam counties. 

Public Statement Hearings and Informational Forums

The public will have an opportunity to present their comments at three separate hearings in Buffalo, Albany and New York City before an Administrative Law Judge assigned by the Commission to hear this case.  A verbatim transcript of the hearings will be made for inclusion in the record of the proceeding.  Informational forums will be held prior to the public statement hearings, and will consist of presentations by Comcast and other invited parties, regarding the proposed transaction and its likely impact on consumers in New York.  The Administrative Law Judge, attending Commissioner and Department of Public Service Senior Staff may ask questions of the invited speakers.

The informational forums and public statement hearings will be held as follows:

MONDAY, JUNE 16

SUNY Buffalo

Student Union Theater

106 Student Union

Buffalo, NY

6:00 pm: Informational Forum

7:30 pm: Public Statement Hearing

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18

SUNY Albany

Performing Arts Center

1400 Washington Avenue

Albany, NY

6:00 pm: Informational Forum

7:30 pm: Public Statement Hearing

THURSDAY, JUNE 19

NYS Department of Public Service

90 Church Street

New York, NY

6:00 pm: Informational Forum

7:30 pm: Public Statement Hearing

It is not necessary to make an appointment in advance or to present written material in order to speak at the public statement hearings.  Speakers will be called after completing a card requesting time to speak.  Disabled persons requiring special accommodations may place a collect call to the Department of Public Service’s Human Resources Management Office at (518) 474-2520 as soon as possible.  TDD users may request a sign language interpreter by placing a call through the New York Relay Service at 711 to reach the Department of Public Service’s Human Resource Office at the previously mentioned number. 

 Other Ways to Comment

Internet or Mail:  In addition to the formal hearings, comments may be sent electronically to the Secretary, at secretary@dps.ny.gov, or mailed or delivered to Hon. Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350.  Your comments should refer to “Case 14-M-0183, Petition of Comcast Corporation and Time Warner Cable Inc.”

Toll-free Opinion Line:  Comments may also be submitted through the Commission’s Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120.  This number is designed to take comments about pending cases from in-state callers, 24 hours a day.  Callers should press “1” to leave comments, mentioning the Comcast/Time Warner merger.

A full copy of the Petition may be viewed, printed or downloaded from the Commission’s website at http://www.dps.ny.gov by searching for case number 14-M-0183. Comments are requested no later than July 31, 2014, but will be accepted throughout the pendency of this proceeding.  Comments will become part of the record considered by the Commission.  Written comments may be accessed on the Commission’s website by searching Case 14-M-0183 (at www.dps.ny.gov, enter Case Number 14-M-0183 in the input box labeled "Search for Case/Matter Number") and clicking on the “Public Comments” tab.  Many libraries offer free Internet access.

The Commission’s decision in this case, when issued, may be obtained on the Commission’s website by searching for Case 14-M-0183 as described above.  Commission orders may also be obtained from the Commission’s Files Office, 14th floor, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223 (518-474-2500).  If you have difficulty understanding English, please call us at 1?800?342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this press release.