**DA 02-2079**

**August 26, 2002**

**Media Bureau ACtion**

**MEDIA BUREAU ANNOUNCES EXTENSION OF**

**COMMENT PERIOD IN AT&T-cOMCAST PROCEEDING**

**MB DOCKET NO. 02-70**

Beginning on February 28, 2002,[^1] the Commission received applications
(collectively, the "Application") requesting consent to transfer to AT&T
Comcast Corporation ("AT&T Comcast"), control of (1) licenses and
authorizations held by Comcast Corporation ("Comcast") and (2) licenses
and authorizations held by AT&T Corp. ("AT&T") associated with the
operation of their respective cable systems.[^2]

The Application stated that, prior to the closing of the proposed
merger, AT&T would either divest its interest in Time Warner
Entertainment, L.P. ("TWE") or insulate the interest in a manner
consistent with the Commission's attribution rules.[^3] On August 8,
2002, the Applicants proposed a means of insulating and ultimately
divesting the TWE interest (the "TWE Proposal"). We issued a Public
Notice requesting comment on the TWE Proposal by no later than August
30, 2002.[^4] To accommodate the pleading cycle, we stopped the clock on
the 180-day review period that governs this proceeding.[^5] We stated
that, at the close of the pleading cycle, we would re-start the clock
unless intervening events dictated otherwise.

On August 21, 2002, the Applicants announced that they have reached an
agreement with AOL Time Warner, Inc. to restructure the TWE partnership
("August 21 Agreement"). [^6] The Media Bureau has requested additional
information from the Applicants concerning the August 21 Agreement. We
will extend the comment period established in our August 9, 2002 Public
Notice to permit interested parties to comment on the additional
information we have requested. Upon receipt of the requested
information, we will release a further Public Notice establishing a new
comment deadline of 10 days from the date of that Public Notice. To
accommodate this extension, the clock will remain stopped on the 180-day
review period that governs this proceeding until the close of the
comment period.

Alternate formats of this public notice (computer diskette, large print,
audio recording, and Braille) are available to persons with disabilities
by contacting Brian Millin at (202) 418-7426 voice, (202) 418-7365 TTY,
or e-mail at <bmillin@fcc.gov>.

The media contacts for this proceeding are Margo Domon Davenport, (202)
418-2949, and Michelle Russo, (202) 418-2358. The Media Bureau Contact
is Roger Holberg, (202) 418-2134.

**- FCC -**

[^1]: On February 28, 2002, the Applicants filed a Public Interest
    Statement and associated applications for consent to the transfer of
    control of certain licenses and authorizations. On various
    subsequent dates, up to and including March 26, 2002, the Applicants
    filed additional, related transfer of control applications, re-filed
    certain applications, and filed supplemental information or
    amendments to the applications to make them acceptable for filing.

[^2]: The Application was filed pursuant to Sections 214 and 310(d) of
    the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

[^3]: *Public Interest Statement* at 4, 19, 53-64.

[^4]: *See* *Media Bureau Seeks Comment on Proposed Insulation and
    Divestiture of AT&T's Interest in Time Warner Entertainment, LP*,
    Public Notice, DA 02-1987 (rel. Aug. 9, 2002).

[^5]: The Commission has committed to expeditiously review proposed
    transactions by establishing an aggressive 180-day review period.

[^6]: AT&T Corp. and Comcast Corporation, *AOL Time Warner, AT&T and
    Comcast Agree to Restructure Time Warner Entertainment Partnership*
    (press release), August 21, 2002.