On November 4, 2015, Altice N.V. (Altice) and Cablevision Systems Corporation (Cablevision) filed a Joint Petition with the New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) seeking approval for Cablevision to transfer certain telephone and cable systems, franchises and assets to Altice.  Under the proposed transaction, Altice will acquire Cablevision and its New York operating subsidiaries.  Altice plans to retain all of Cablevision’s existing assets in New York.

If the transaction is approved, Altice will own and/or manage cable systems serving approximately 220 communities throughout the Hudson Valley, Long Island and the boroughs of the Bronx and Brooklyn.  According to the petition, the proposed transaction will occur solely at the holding company level and does not seek changes to customers’ rates, terms or conditions, nor will it result in the discontinuance, reduction, loss or impairment of service to any customer.

A copy of the petition may be reviewed online at the Commission’s www.dps.ny.gov website under Case 15-M-0647.

Information Session and Public Statement Hearing

The Commission is seeking public comment on the Joint Petition filed by Altice and Cablevision.  Interested members of the public are invited to attend a public statement hearing and provide comments before an Administrative Law Judge.  The hearing will be preceded by an information session, during which staff from the New York State Department of Public Service (DPS) will provide an overview of the procedure for review of the petition.  The presentation will be followed by an opportunity for members of the public to ask questions about the proposed transaction.

In order to speak at the hearing, it is not necessary to make an appointment in advance or to present written material.  All comments given at the hearing will be transcribed and become part of the Commission's formal record.  The hearing will remain open until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements have been made.

Disabled persons requiring special accommodations should contact the DPS Human Resources Management Office at (518) 474-2520 as soon as possible.  TDD users may request a sign language interpreter by placing a call through the New York Relay Service at 711 to reach the Human Resource number.  Individuals with difficulty understanding or reading English are encouraged to call the Commission at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this factsheet.

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Additional Methods for Commenting on the Case

• Via the Internet or In Writing:  Submit comments electronically to Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary, at [email protected] or by mail or delivery to Secretary Burgess at the Department of Public Service, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350.  Comments may also be entered directly into the case by locating the case via the home page of the Commission’s website, www.dps.ny.gov, by clicking on “Search,” and entering 15-M-0647 in the “Search by Case Number” field.  After clicking to open the case, enter comments in the “Post Comments” section located at the top of the page.

• Toll-Free Opinion Line:  Individuals may choose to submit comments by calling the Commission’s toll-free Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120.  This line is set up to receive in-state calls 24-hours a day.  Callers should press “1” to leave comments about “Case 15-M-0647 Joint Petition of Altice and Cablevision”.  Comments received via the Opinion Line are not transcribed, but a summary is provided to the Commission for their consideration.

All comments will become part of the record considered by the Commission.  Comments will be accepted at any point while this proceeding is pending, but are requested by March 4, 2016.

For a printable verion of our fact sheet, please click here.