Federal Communications Commission DA 12-844
Before the
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554
In the Matter of
Petition for Declaratory Ruling to Clarify ) WC Docket No. 11-118
47 U.S.C. § 572 in the Context of Transactions )                 
Between Competitive Local Exchange Carriers )
and Cable Operators )
)
Conditional Petition for Forbearance from )
Section 652 of the Communications Act for )
Transactions Between Competitive Local )
Exchange Carriers and Cable Operators )
ORDER
Adopted:  May 30, 2012 Released:  May 30, 2012
By the Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau:
1. In this Order, pursuant to section 10(c) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the 
Act),1 we extend by 90 days the date by which the petition, filed by the National Cable & 
Telecommunications Association (NCTA),2 shall be deemed granted in the absence of a Commission 
decision that the petition fails to meet the standards for forbearance.3
2. Section 652 of the Act prohibits buyouts between cable operators and local exchange carriers 
(LECs) and their affiliates, subject to certain exceptions.4 The Commission may waive this prohibition if 
certain criteria are satisfied, and if the relevant local franchising authorities approve of the Commission’s 
waiver.5 On June 21, 2011, NCTA filed a petition requesting, among other things, that the Commission 
forbear from applying section 652(b) to mergers and acquisitions between cable operators and 
competitive LECs.6 NCTA alternatively seeks forbearance from the requirement contained in section 
652(d)(6)(B) that relevant local franchising authorities (LFAs) must approve of a Commission waiver of 
section 652(b).
  
1 47 U.S.C. § 160(c).
2 Conditional Petition for Forbearance from Section 652 of the Communications Act for Transactions Between 
Competitive Local Exchange Carriers and Cable Operators, WC Docket No. 11-118 (filed June 21, 2011) (NCTA 
Petition for Forbearance).
3 47 U.S.C. § 160(a).
4 47 U.S.C. § 572; see also 47 C.F.R. § 76.505.
5 47 U.S.C. § 572(d).
6 NCTA Petition for Forbearance at 2.  On June 21, 2011, NCTA also filed a related petition for declaratory ruling 
asking the Commission to clarify that section 652 does not restrict transactions between cable operators and 
competitive LECs.  See Petition for Declaratory Ruling to Clarify 47 U.S.C. § 572 in the Context of Transactions 
Between Competitive Local Exchange Carriers and Cable Operators, WC Docket No. 11-118, at 5 (filed June 21, 
2011).  NCTA seeks forbearance only if the Commission denies its petition for declaratory ruling.  See NCTA 
Petition for Forbearance at 6.
Federal Communications Commission DA 12-844
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3. Section 10(c) of the Act states that a petition for forbearance shall be deemed granted if the 
Commission does not deny the petition for failure to meet the requirements for forbearance under section 
10(a) within one year after the Commission receives it, unless the Commission extends the one-year 
period.7 The Commission may extend the initial one-year period by an additional 90 days if the
Commission finds that an extension is necessary to meet the requirements of section 10(a).8
4. NCTA’s petition for forbearance raises significant questions regarding whether forbearance 
from the application of section 652(b) or 652(d)(6)(B) meets the statutory requirements set forth in 
section 10(a).  The Bureau thus finds that a 90-day extension is warranted under section 10(c).
5. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to section 10 of the Communications Act of 
1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. § 160, and authority delegated under sections 0.91 and 0.291 of the 
Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.91, 0.291,9 the date on which the petition seeking forbearance filed 
by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association shall be deemed granted, in the absence of a 
Commission denial of the petition for failure to meet the statutory standards for forbearance, is extended 
to September 19, 2012. 
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Sharon E. Gillett
Chief
Wireline Competition Bureau
  
7 47 U.S.C. § 160(c).
8 Id.
9 See 47 U.S.C. § 155(c).