ALBANY — The long process of deciding whether to approve the $45 billion merger of two major cable providers will get under way Monday.

Gov. Cuomo said that the Public Service Commission will review the Time Warner Cable-Comcast deal under new regulations passed by state lawmakers in April.

Before the change, the PSC was required to grant approval to merging companies unless the commission found it was not in the public interest.

Now Comcast, which is seeking to buy Time Warner, must show evidence that the planned merger is in the public interest.

The changes are in line with similar rules that gas and oil companies must follow, said a Cuomo administration official.

Cuomo directed the PSC to review, among other things, whether the proposed merger will expand broadband Internet in underserved areas.

The PSC says the review process could take as long as four months.

The companies must also receive federal approval and OKs from the other states in which they operate.

“The commission will examine the proposal to ensure services the merged company would provide will be better than the service customers currently receive,” said PSC Chair Audrey Zibelman.