Cogent Presses FCC To Attach Interconnection Condition to AT&T/DirecTV

Despite AT&T's pushback, Cogent continues to urge the FCC to impose an interconnection condition on any approval of the AT&T/DirecTV transaction, according to a May 27 Cogent ex parte filing in docket 14-90. During a teleconference with Gigi Sohn, counselor to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, Cogent CEO Dave Schaeffer and others repeated Cogent's belief that "AT&T-created congestion at interconnection ports" continued to result in "degraded broadband experiences for its customers," the filing said. They also said AT&T's proposed buy of DirecTV and its video distribution business will increase its incentive to use its ability to "impair broadband Internet access." "Accordingly, we emphasized the need for a clear, robust and enforceable interconnection condition as a prerequisite to a determination that the proposed transaction comports with the public interest," the filing said. "In particular, Mr. Schaeffer underscored the need for a durable interconnection solution that not only solves congestion today, but ensures that as broadband usage continues on its upward trajectory congestion will not reappear in short order." AT&T recently disputed in detail the arguments of Cogent and others for an interconnection condition (see 1505270049.