Groups Ask FCC to Stop Clock on Verizon/Cable Spectrum Deal

Sprint/Nextel, DirecTV, and public advocacy groups critical of the proposed sale of cable spectrum to Verizon have joined with the Communications Workers of America to ask the Federal Communications Commission to stop the clock on its merger review, citing software problems with opening some of the documents filed by Verizon and cable operators.

"The Commission has taken significant steps toward making its process transparent by allowing authorized personnel to review and analyze the documentation that it has required from the Applicants," they say in a letter to the commission dated April 24. "Now, considering the delays in receiving data and the technical challenges involved, the Commission should take the further step of giving reviewers the additional time that is necessary to study the documents and data and respond to the Commission with cogent analysis." They say that some files can't be opened with software "commonly used by law firms" while the charges the applicants are levying for, paper copies and electronic media make it hard for some organizations representing the public interest to review the documents.