State official and regulator met cable execs on merger
Scott Waldman
ALBANYAbout a month before Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered an independent review of the proposed Time Warner Cable-Comcast merger, an administration official met privately with executives from the two companies as well as the state regulators who would be conducting the review.
Since that April meeting, cable executives have met privately with state regulators at least four more times, public schedules show.
While some state officials say such meetings are not unusual, some good government advocates questioned why they were held behind closed doors, and one former public service commissioner said he could not recall a similar situation.
On April 10, Public Service Commission chairwoman Audrey Zibelman and commissioner Gregg Sayre met with executives from the two cable companies, according to public schedules. They were joined by Allison Lee, a lobbyist for the firm representing T.W.C., and Tom Congdon, Cuomo's assistant secretary for energy.
http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2014/09/8551520/state-official-and-regulator-met-cable-execs-merger?top-featured-3