August 12, 2010 - Arent Fox partner Michael Hazzard, head of the firm’s telecommunications practice, was quoted by Communications Daily commenting on the possibility that the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) staff’s review of the proposed purchase of NBC-Universal by Comcast could extend into 2011.

FCC staffers reviewing Comcast's planned purchase of control in NBC Universal may not complete their work this year, as the companies hope, said commission officials and industry executives not part of the ongoing staff work. They said there have been indications in private comments from commission officials familiar with the deal that an order on the multibillion-dollar transaction may not be finished in 2010. Staff work on Comcast-NBC Universal, with Internet video continuing to be a key area of focus, likely will be complete in the first quarter of 2011. … Comcast could resist commission efforts to place curbs on Web video "because that's a key interest to the merging parties," said communications lawyer Michael Hazzard of Arent Fox, who specializes in antitrust law. There likely would be "less pushback" from the companies if Justice requires Comcast to sell some NBC Universal-owned TV stations or other assets to approve the deal, he said. "This is really a different kind of merger, so I think that people are taking their time," he said of the FCC. "The conventional wisdom that it will be the first quarter or second quarter of this year is quite right, and no one has ever lost money betting on delay at the FCC."’