CWA Asks FCC to "Stop the Clock" on Spectrum Deal

CWA says "No Secret Deals" As Redacted Documents Filed By Verizon and Four Cable Providers Fail to Provide FCC and Public Critical Information about the Deal

Washington, D.C. — The Communications Workers of America today filed supplemental comments with the Federal Communications Commission asking the agency to "stop the clock" on consideration of the Verizon/cable company transaction until the parties involved provide the Commission with full and complete copies of their related commercial agreements.

In demanding the release of unredacted versions of Joint Marketing Agreements between Verizon Wireless and the four cable companies — Comcast, Time Warner, Cox, and Bright House Networks — the CWA noted that the documents are essential to shed light on competitive concerns related to the proposed sale under consideration by the FCC.

"This is about transparency," said CWA Senior Director George Kohl. "There can be no secret deals related to such an important sale when it comes to pricing, compensation and marketing agreements, simply because the stakes to the consumer are too high."

Because the joint marketing agreements that the companies provided to the Commission contain significant redactions, including the redaction of headings, it is impossible to determine the scope of the proposed transaction, including the impact on essential issues related to pricing, compensation, and marketing strategy.

The proposed transaction appears to reduce the traditional competition between Verizon's FiOS and cable companies, and represents an attempt by these carriers to divide geographic service areas amongst themselves. Such actions would lead to reduced investment, job losses and ultimately, higher prices for consumers.

Read the full filing: http://files.cwa-union.org/national/News/Misc/20120302-supplemental-cwa-ibew.pdf

For release March 2, 2012

Contact: Liz Schilling or Chuck Porcari, CWA Communications, 202-434-1168
eschilling@cwa-union.org or cporcari@cwa-union.org