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Senators Come Out Against Comcast-Time Warner Merger

posted by mrcoolbp on Wednesday April 22 2015, @04:42AM   
from the monopoly-Time dept.

takyon writes:

Six leading Democratic senators have written to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Department of Justice (DoJ) asking them to reject the proposed $45.2 billion acquisition of Time Warner by Comcast.

In the two-page letter, signed by Senators Franken, Sanders, Markey, Wyden, Warren, and Blumenthal, the senators warn that "Comcast-TWC's unmatched power in the telecommunications industry would lead to higher prices, fewer choices, and poorer quality services for Americans."

Sources have told the Wall Street Journal that both the FCC and DoJ are not happy with the proposed merger, and that the FCC may hold a formal hearing into the deal soon. Bloomberg also reported that staff attorneys at the DoJ's antitrust division are prepared to recommend blocking the deal [autoplay video].

• Re:Always ask why? Re:Always ask why? (Score: 2) by fishybell on Wednesday April 22 2015, @05:34AM

  by fishybell (3156) on Wednesday April 22 2015, @05:34AM (#173833)

  both the FCC and DoJ are not happy with the proposed merger

  So, if everyone that can stop it is against it I'm just going to go out on a limb and say yep: it's a done deal.</cynical>

  Seriously though, why is it even getting to the stage where senators are weighing in? If the deal is so obviously bad to everyone who looks at it, what parliamentary tricks are TWC/Comcast pulling here to keep it moving?

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• Re:Always ask why? (Score: 1) by similar_name on Wednesday April 22 2015, @06:26AM

  by similar_name (71) on Wednesday April 22 2015, @06:26AM (#173841)

  what parliamentary tricks are TWC/Comcast pulling here to keep it moving?

  You might find Meredith Baker [wikipedia.org] relevant.

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