PITTSBURGH, December 13, 2010 – “ACA commends Sen. Rockefeller for stressing that the Comcast-NBCU merger is a serious threat to consumers and competition in traditional and online video distribution markets that could lead to higher pay TV subscription rates, justifying consideration of regulatory conditions that would prevent this unprecedented transaction from harming the public interest.
“Along with House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman and Rep. Edward Markey, Sen. Rockefeller deserves praise for making clear in his Dec. 10 letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Genachowski that the stakes for the country are very high and close regulatory scrutiny of the Comcast-NBCU transaction is not only warranted but essential to preserving the competitive framework resting on government initiatives begun nearly 20 years ago.
“ACA agrees with Sen. Rockefeller that ‘it would be unacceptable for a transaction like this to lead to further consumer cable rate increases.’ As ACA has pointed out many times, effective conditions are necessary because Comcast-NBCU’s grip on major cable and broadcast programming assets will give the media giant the incentive and ability to set the price of the content at unjustifiably high above-market rates for pay TV providers, particularly smaller ones, resulting in less competition and higher consumers bills. ACA is pleased that so many key Capitol Hill lawmakers with many years of experience in this policy area share our concerns.”
About the American Cable Association
Based in Pittsburgh, the American Cable Association is a trade organization representing nearly 900 smaller and medium-sized, independent cable companies who provide broadband services for more than 7.6 million cable subscribers primarily located in rural and smaller suburban markets across America. Through active participation in the regulatory and legislative process in Washington, D.C., ACA’s members work together to advance the interests of their customers and ensure the future competitiveness and viability of their business. For more information, visit https://acaconnects.org/