Opponents ready to clash at California hearing on Charter-TWC deal

• Opponents are preparing for the attack tonight as the California Public Utility Commission holds a public hearing on the merger of Charter Communications (CHTR -0.2%) and Time Warner Cable (TWC +0.1%).
• Common Cause, Free Press and the National Hispanic Media Coalition are among the high profile opponents planning to speak against the deal at the hearing.
• While Charter has been arguing that the buyout will create a stronger national broadband competitor -- and one friendly to net neutrality and streaming video -- Common Cause's Todd O'Boyle says otherwise: “Allowing two of America’s biggest cable companies to combine fails the most basic test: It does nothing to advance the public interest."
• Of state-by-state reviews of such a merger, California and New York loom largest; New York's PUC conditionally approved the deal last week.
• Previously: California PUC plans Jan. 26 hearing on Charter-TWC deal (Jan. 19 2016)
• Previously: Charter's Rutledge unsure whether company will bid for spectrum (Jan. 15 2016)
• Previously: Time Warner opposes Charter-TWC deal on HBO streaming worries (Jan. 15 2016)