More Criticism For Comcast Deal
Critics are keeping up the pressure on regulators to scrutinize Comcast's proposed acquisition of NBC Universal. A broad array of public interest, labor and other groups have written an open letter, released Thursday, to members of Congress and President Obama expressing "grave" concerns about the proposed deal.
The signatories include public interest groups such as Free Press, Common Cause and Consumers Union, as well as labor unions such as the Communication Workers of America and such industry groups as the American Cable Association and Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association. "It will result in less competition, higher consumer costs and fewer content choices," the groups wrote. "It also will give one company unprecedented control over innovative new media that offer news, information, entertainment and cultural programming through emerging technologies."
The Comcast- NBC deal will be reviewed by both the Justice Department and the FCC. In their letter, the groups claimed the commitments Comcast has made to address concerns raised about the deal are "window dressing." They urged the administration and lawmakers to closely review the merger and "take necessary measures" to protect consumers and competition.
Under the deal announced in early December, Comcast, the nation's biggest cable provider, will buy a majority stake in NBC Universal, which owns a movie studio, the NBC television network and cable channels such as Bravo and SyFy. "Viewed objectively, the GE/Comcast NBCU transaction is pro-consumer and strongly in the public interest, and we look forward to making that case to Congress, the Justice Department, and the FCC," Comcast Executive Director of Corporate Communications and Government Affairs Sena Fitzmaurice said in a statement. "There is absolutely no evidence that this proposed transaction would produce any of the adverse effects these groups claim the deal would cause."
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