By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG – A franchise negotiator from Time Warner Cable told city councilors that his company’s potential merger with Comcast was not likely to occur in 2014.

David Whalen, of TWC, said he almost no contact at all with Comcast officials due to the current scrutiny from the Federal Communications Commission, the Public Service Commission and other U.S. regulatory agencies.

Whalen said the merger may not happen until the second-quarter of 2015, and could possibly fall through. He added that the latter is an unlikely scenario.

Whalen said that due to regulatory scrutiny both companies have been advised to have minimal contact. He said his TWC is not allowed to ask Comcast how it would handle various scenarios.

“Because there is a chance this won’t happen, we have to continue to due business as usual so that we can continue on as a company,” he said.

The merger has caused controversy as Time Warner Cable and Comcast are the nation’s two largest providers of internet service.

Whalen referred to the merger as the elephant in the room, but was also able to provide few details.

“I get my updates from news reports,” he said.

Whalen told city officials that if the merger is successful all of New York will be picked up by Comcast.

Nelson said he was pleased to hear that the North Country wouldn’t be abandoned in the wake of the merger, adding that the city is a small market.

Whalen attended the council meeting to negotiate as franchise renewal with the city of Ogdensburg. For more information on that deal see story, click here.