WSJ:FCC Likely To Circulate Draft Order Approving Charter-Time Warner Cable Deal

(RTTNews) - The Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler is likely to circulate a draft order as soon as this week approving Charter Communications Inc.'s (CHTR) deal to buy Time Warner Cable Inc. with certain conditions, the Wall Street Journal reported citing people familiar with the matter.

The report indicated that the order would impose a number of conditions on the transaction, many of them aimed at boosting online video as a competitor to cable. One condition would bar Charter from including clauses in its pay-TV contracts that restrict a content company's ability to offer its programming online or to new entrants. FCC officials worry those clauses, which are thought to be widespread in the pay-TV marketplace, could be impeding the growth of online video.

The order will be sent to the four other FCC commissioners for review and could be modified in the coming day.

In May 2015, Charter Communications agreed to acquire Time Warner Cable in a cash-and-stock deal. Including debt, the deal valued Time Warner Cable at $78.7 billion.