The FCC chairman is circulating an order among the other commissioners that would approve the deal if conditions regarding program access, localism and diversity, among others, are met.
Genachowski Ready To OK Comcast-NBCU
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski wants to give the green light to the Comcast-NBC joint venture … with conditions
Senior FCC officials revealed during a telephone press briefing today that an order to do just that is being circulating among the other four commissioners.
It is unclear when full commission approval might come but senior FCC officials also indicated the order could be voted on at the Jan. 25 meeting if the process drags on.
FCC Chairman Genachowski has not even voted on the item, according to the FCC officials.
The order imposes certain conditions on the proposed merger; they were not spelled out during the press briefing. However, FCC officials indicated that the order covers issues dealing with program access, program carriage, on-line access and broadcast matters addressing localism and diversity.
The FCC officials also said that the agency has been working closely with the Justice Department, which must also sign off on the merger.
BRAND CONNECTIONS
The Justice Department is said to be comfortable with the FCC’s approach, according to the FCC officials.
Comments (4)
Christina Perez says:
December 23, 2010 at 3:43 pm
This proposed merger is anticompetitive, anti-free market, anti-public interest. Comcast is deservedly reviled for its poor service and high prices. Comcast’s ulterior motive is to turn all TV into pay TV — ditto Genachowski. Obama’s D.O.J. should deep-six this deal on antitrust grounds, just as the proposed Comcast-Disney deal went down in flames years ago. Ditch the deal, and Genachowski and serve the PUBLIC interest, Mr. Obama.
Scott McDaniel says:
December 23, 2010 at 3:48 pm
No good will come of this Comcast-NBC Deal, except for the Comcast coffers. This so-called Chairman needs to be called out publicly for who, (and what), he is, a bought and sold beaurocratic hack. This “deal” is NO Deal for the American Public…ever.
Peter Bright
Peter Grewar says:
December 23, 2010 at 10:39 pm
Let me add to the pile on: this deal is bad for the public, bad for competition in the TV business, and bad for the future of OTA television. Attempts to lessen the “bad-ness” of the merger by conditions are pretty much just the regulatory equivalent of slapping lipstick on a pig.
Anthony Hernandez says:
January 2, 2011 at 9:06 pm
Remember when the Federal Trade Commission was effective instead of irrelevant? The FCC’s policies of enabling the rich and screwing the public makes them fully responsible for what is happening to our country. How could anyone say that a merger of NBC and Comcast is a “comfortable” event. Keep TV Free..We can do this the hard way, or we can do this the easy way..Genachowski resign!