National Journal: Tech Daily Dose Blog: FCC Urged To Extend Comcast-NBC Deal Comment Period

By Juliana Gruenwald

Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, has called on the FCC to extend the comment period on whether the commission should approve Comcast's acquisition of NBC Universal.

In a letter Monday to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, Waters voiced concern with the FCC's refusal to agree to public interest groups' request for a 45-day extension in the comment period. Stakeholders currently have until May 3 to file initial comments and June 17 to file final reply comments.

Waters noted that given the vast number of proceedings taking place at the FCC to implement aspects of the national broadband plan and address other issues, stakeholders should have adequate time to comment on the merger. Public interest groups have voiced concern with the merger saying it will lead to higher prices, fewer choices and less competition. Waters also said she is "very concerned about the implications this merger has on diversity, localism, and competition in today's media market."

The merger would combine the nation's largest cable provider Comcast with NBC Universal, which owns a major broadcast network and several of its local affiliates, a dozen cable stations and a major movie studio.

Waters argued that "such an unprecedented transfer of media ownership and licenses warrants the commission taking the necessary steps to ensure a complete and detailed record. Thus, an extension would allow public interest groups and other organizations sufficient time to better supply the commission with the invaluable data and analysis it needs to conduct a comprehensive review of our nation's most consequential merger transaction to date."