PK_CWA_Benton_c4at_Charter_petition - Petition to Deny

Sep 19, 2026

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Petition to deny filed with the Federal Communications Commission challenges Charter Communications’ proposed $34.5 billion acquisition of Cox Communications. Commenters argue the transfer of control fails to show the transaction serves the public interest under Section 310(d) of the Communications Act. The filing contends the merger would create unchecked gatekeeper power, weaken competition, and raise consumer prices, while harming low-income communities and digital equity goals. It also alleges negative impacts on workers and insufficient employment commitments.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatPDF

Pages32

Reading Time11 min

AccessFree to download

INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY

II. THE MERGER WOULD CREATE UNCHECKED GATEKEEPER POWER OVER INTERNET DISTRIBUTION

A. Applicants Misunderstand the Economics of Broadband Distribution

B. Last-Mile Chokepoint Creates Structural Incentives for Rent Extraction

C. The Commission Must Impose Comprehensive Interconnection Conditions Mirroring the Charter-TWC Precedent

III. THE MERGER FAILS TO DEMONSTRATE CONSUMER BENEFITS AND COULD INCREASE PRICES

A. Claimed Synergies Lack Specificity and Consumer Pass-Through Commitments

B. Market Concentration Would Enable Price Increases

IV. THE TRANSACTION WOULD HARM LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES AND DIGITAL EQUITY GOALS

A. The Post-ACP Affordability Crisis Requires Enhanced Protections

B. Digital Discrimination Concerns Require Comprehensive Guardrails

V. THE TRANSACTION WOULD HARM WORKERS

A. The Parties Plan to Reduce Benefits for Long-Term Cox Employees

B. Charter Has Not Fulfilled Previous Merger-Related Employment Commitments

VI. Merger Commitments Must Address Transaction Harms, Not Serve Political Agendas

A. Content-Based Restraints Are Presumptively Invalid

Conclusion

Before the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, DC 20554 In the Matter of Application for the Transfer of Control of Cox Communications, Inc. To Charter Communications, Inc. )) )) ) WC Docket No. 25-233 PETITION TO DENY OF PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE, COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA, BENTON INSTITUTE FOR BROADBAND & SOCIETY, AND CENTER FOR ACCESSIBLE TECHNOLOGY Nell Geiser Director of Research Hooman Hedayati Sr. Strategic Research Associate for Telecommunications Policy John Bergmayer Legal Director Alisa Valentin Broadband Policy Director COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA 501 3rd ST NW Washington, DC 20001 (202)434-1198 Paul Goodman CENTER FOR ACCESSIBLE TECHNOLOGY 3075 Adeline St., Suite 220 Berkeley, CA 94703 (510) 841-3224 PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE 1818 N St, NW Suite 410 Washington, DC 20036 (202) 861-0020 Andrew Jay Schwartzman BENTON INSTITUTE FOR BROADBAND & SOCIETY 1041 Ridge Road Unit 214 Wilmette, IL 6009 (847) 220-4531 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY..........................................................................................1 II. THE MERGER WOULD CREATE UNCHECKED GATEKEEPER POWER OVER INTERNET DISTRIBUTION...................................................................................................... 3 A. Applicants Misunderstand the Economics of Broadband Distribution.................................4 B. Last-Mile Chokepoint Creates Structural Incentives for Rent Extraction............................ 6 C. The Commission Must Impose Comprehensive Interconnection Conditions Mirroring the Charter-TWC Precedent.............................................................................................................7 1. The 2016 Charter Conditions Recognized These Precise Risks...................................... 8 2. Enhanced Conditions Are Necessary for the Current Transaction.................................. 8 III. THE MERGER FAILS TO DEMONSTRATE CONSUMER BENEFITS AND COULD INCREASE PRICES..................................................................................................................... 9 A. Claimed Synergies Lack Specificity and Consumer Pass-Through Commitments..............9 B. Market Concentration Would Enable Price Increases......................................................... 12 C. Competitive Pressure from Wireless and Satellite is Minimal............................................14 IV. THE TRANSACTION WOULD HARM LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES AND DIGITAL EQUITY GOALS.......................................................................................................18 A. The Post-ACP Affordability Crisis Requires Enhanced Protections.................................. 18 B. Digital Discrimination Concerns Require Comprehensive Guardrails...............................20 C. Required Conditions for Addressing Digital Equity Concerns...........................................21 V. THE TRANSACTION WOULD HARM WORKERS........................................................ 22 A. The Parties Plan to Reduce Benefits for Long-Term Cox Employees................................22 B. Charter Has Not Fulfilled Previous Merger-Related Employment Commitments............. 23 C. Charter ’s Cuts to Customer Service Jobs Undermines Public Interest Claims...................23 D. The Parties’Violations of Employment Law Undermine Public Interest Claims.............. 24 E. Charter ’s Anti-Union Activity Suppresses Workers’ Rights...............................................26 F. Conditions Are Necessary to Protect Labor Markets...........................................................27 VI. Merger Commitments Must Address Transaction Harms, Not Serve Political Agendas... 27 A. Content-Based Restraints Are Presumptively Invalid........................................................ 28 B. Lack of Nexus to Competitive Harms................................................

FAQs

Who filed the petition, and what is it asking the FCC to do?

Public Knowledge, Communications Workers of America, Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, and the Center for Accessible Technology filed the petition to deny the FCC applications for transfer of control related to the Charter-Cox merger.

On what legal basis do the commenters argue the FCC should deny the applications?

The petition argues the Applicants failed to demonstrate the transaction serves the public interest, convenience, and necessity, and did not meet their burden of proof under Section 310(d) of the Communications Act.

What harms does the petition claim the merger would cause for consumers and communities?

It argues the merger would increase gatekeeper power over internet distribution, diminish competition, raise prices, and harm low-income communities and digital equity goals, including concerns about affordability and digital discrimination.

Sep 19, 2026

Upload by Blaney