CenturyLink and Level 3 told the FCC they will respond "shortly" to staff requests for more information about CenturyLink's planned buy of Level 3. The companies intend to produce information to "support their conclusions that competition in the provision of long-haul transport and business data services" won't be harmed due to the deal, and to substantiate "benefits, efficiencies, and synergies," said their filing, posted Tuesday in docket 16-403, on a meeting with commission staffers Thursday. On June 9, the agency paused its nonbinding 180-day review clock on Day 170 to await further filings by the license-transfer applicants (see 1706120032). Meanwhile, three providers of VoIP and other IP services -- commio, Fractel and VoIP Innovations -- said in recent filings (here, here, here) they're concerned the deal would remove Level 3 as an independent provider of wholesale switching and transport ("access homing tandem") services for customer-owned phone numbers. The three companies believe the only national providers of such services are Level 3, Peerless and Inteliquent. Fractel said that market is "minimally competitive" and just "one merger away from no competition at all." They asked the FCC to condition approval of the deal on a requirement that Level 3 or its successor "continue to offer at reasonable prices and on a nationwide basis wholesale switching and transport services for customer owned telephone numbers." CenturyLink and Level 3 didn't comment Tuesday on those concerns.
Pennsylvania OK’d CenturyLink’s $34 billion buy of Level 3 without conditions. Public Utility Commissioners voted 5-0 to clear the deal at their Wednesday meeting. It follows approvals in Minnesota, Virginia and 15 other states and territories (see 1705300028). The New York Public Service Commission scheduled a vote on the deal for its Thursday meeting. The FCC paused its nonbinding 180-day review shot on Day 170 last week (see 1706120032).
Pennsylvania OK’d CenturyLink’s $34 billion buy of Level 3 without conditions. Public Utility Commissioners voted 5-0 to clear the deal at their Wednesday meeting. It follows approvals in Minnesota, Virginia and 15 other states and territories (see 1705300028). The New York Public Service Commission scheduled a vote on the deal for its Thursday meeting. The FCC paused its nonbinding 180-day review shot on Day 170 last week (see 1706120032).
The FCC paused its nonbinding 180-day review shot clock on CenturyLink's planned Level 3 buy on Day 170 Friday, after CenturyLink filed a letter saying it intended to file additional data to supplement applicants' responses to agency requests for information. "Once we have had an adequate opportunity to review the new information, including engaging in any discussions with the Department of Justice, as permitted under our rules, and determining whether we need additional information, we will restart the clock," said a Wireline Bureau letter in docket 16-403.
The FCC paused its nonbinding 180-day review shot clock on CenturyLink's planned Level 3 buy on Day 170 Friday, after CenturyLink filed a letter saying it intended to file additional data to supplement applicants' responses to agency requests for information. "Once we have had an adequate opportunity to review the new information, including engaging in any discussions with the Department of Justice, as permitted under our rules, and determining whether we need additional information, we will restart the clock," said a Wireline Bureau letter in docket 16-403.
Momentum on the Register of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act significantly slowed in the month since Senate Judiciary Committee leaders filed their version of the bill (S-1010) due to a confluence of factors, lawmakers and industry lobbyists said in interviews. S-1010 and House-passed HR-1695 would make the register a presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed position with a 10-year term (see 1704260062). Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and committee ranking member Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., filed S-1010 in early May in a bid to ride the momentum that House passage generated days earlier (see 1705020057 and 1705030060). House Judiciary Committee leaders are continuing to push for Senate passage but also are moving forward on work on other Copyright Office modernization issues.
Momentum on the Register of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act significantly slowed in the month since Senate Judiciary Committee leaders filed their version of the bill (S-1010) due to a confluence of factors, lawmakers and industry lobbyists said in interviews. S-1010 and House-passed HR-1695 would make the register a presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed position with a 10-year term (see 1704260062). Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and committee ranking member Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., filed S-1010 in early May in a bid to ride the momentum that House passage generated days earlier (see 1705020057 and 1705030060). House Judiciary Committee leaders are continuing to push for Senate passage but also are moving forward on work on other Copyright Office modernization issues.
Dish Network's Hopper DVR and Wally receiver are now directly compatible with Amazon Alexa, allowing voice command remote control, Dish said in a news release Monday. Voice commands to Alexa can be used to navigate, play, pause, fast-forward, rewind and search across channels, titles, actors and genres.
Dish Network's Hopper DVR and Wally receiver are now directly compatible with Amazon Alexa, allowing voice command remote control, Dish said in a news release Monday. Voice commands to Alexa can be used to navigate, play, pause, fast-forward, rewind and search across channels, titles, actors and genres.
Dish Network's Hopper DVR and Wally receiver are now directly compatible with Amazon Alexa, allowing voice command remote control, Dish said in a news release Monday. Voice commands to Alexa can be used to navigate, play, pause, fast-forward, rewind and search across channels, titles, actors and genres.