The Regulatory War Between Comcast And Opponents Of Its Time Warner Cable Deal Has Officially Begun

Buzzfeed's Peter Lauria writes that securing approval for its $45.2 billion deal will be a bare-knuckle brawl unlike any other Comcast has faced.

With at least another nine months to go before a verdict is rendered — the deal is expected to close by the end of the year — the regulatory showdown between Comcast and the opposition is beginning to take shape. According to sources familiar with the situation, Comcast wants to focus the regulatory review around one or two keys issues where it can control the narrative — for instance market competition and net neutrality. But, as evidenced in two separate developments last week, the review process can easily splinter off into many disparate areas of concerns, essentially forcing Comcast’s legal team into an uncomfortable, defensive posture.