FCC Stops the Clock on Comcast-NBC Merger Review

The Federal Communications Commission has asked Comcast and NBC Universal for two additional economic reports -- one addressing the economic support for the claimed benefits from the transaction and one addressing the potential impacts of the transaction on online video distribution.

The companies have agreed to do so and have advised that they are in the process of preparing these materials, but will be unable to file them until close to the date when comments/petitions currently are due. In light of the approaching filing deadlines, and in order to provide adequate time for all interested parties to review and comment on these additional economic reports, the FCC has decided to suspend the current filing deadlines, including the May 3 deadline for filing comments and petitions to deny, pending the submission of the new reports. The FCC is stopping its 180-day informal time clock to take account of the additional comment period. Comments and petitions to deny will be due 45 days after the FCC gives notice that the companies have submitted their additional reports. This will give commenters the full amount of time they would have had if the reports had been available when the Public Notice was issued. The deadline for filing responses to comments and oppositions to petitions will be 30 days after comments and petitions are due, and the deadline for filing replies to responses or oppositions will be 15 days thereafter.