Media Contact: 
Neil Grace, (202) 418-0506
neil.grace@fcc.gov
For Immediate Release
STATEMENT OF FCC CHAIRMAN TOM WHEELER ON RECOMMENDATION
CONCERNING CHARTER/TIME WARNER CABLE/BRIGHT HOUSE NETWORKS
Washington, April 25, 2016 – In connection with the announcement by the Department of 
Justice concerning the Charter/Time Warner Cable/Bright House Networks transaction, FCC 
Chairman Tom Wheeler issued the following statement:  
“Based on imposed conditions that will ensure a competitive video marketplace and increase 
broadband deployment, an order recommending that the Charter/Time Warner Cable/Bright 
House Networks transaction be approved has circulated to the Commissioners. As proposed, the
order outlines a number of conditions in place for seven years that will directly benefit consumers 
by bringing and protecting competition to the video marketplace and increasing broadband 
deployment. If the conditions are approved by my colleagues, an additional two million customer 
locations will have access to a high-speed connection. At least one million of those connections 
will be in competition with another high-speed broadband provider in the market served, bringing 
innovation and new choices for consumers, and demonstrate the viability of one broadband 
provider overbuilding another.
“In conjunction with the Department of Justice, specific FCC conditions will focus on removing 
unfair barriers to video competition. First, New Charter will not be permitted to charge usage-
based prices or impose data caps. Second, New Charter will be prohibited from charging 
interconnection fees, including to online video providers, which deliver large volumes of internet 
traffic to broadband customers. Additionally, the Department of Justice’s settlement with Charter 
both outlaws video programming terms that could harm OVDs and protects OVDs from 
retaliation– an outcome fully supported by the order I have circulated today. All three seven-year 
conditions will help consumers by benefitting OVD competition. The cumulative impact of these 
conditions will be to provide additional protection for new forms of video programming services 
offered over the Internet. Thus, we continue our close working relationship with the Department 
of Justice on this review.
“Importantly, we will require an independent monitor to help ensure compliance with these and 
other proposed conditions. These strong measures will protect consumers, expand high-speed 
broadband availability, and increase competition.”
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Office of Media Relations: (202) 418-0500
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This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order 
constitutes official action.  See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).