Congresswoman Maxine Waters Forces FCC to Extend Comment Period on Comcast-NBC Merger

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced today that it will extend the deadline for the public to comment on Comcast's proposed acquisition of NBC Universal.  This decision follows the introduction of H.R. 5020, legislation authored by Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), which attracted 56 co-sponsors, calling for an extension of the comment filing period. 

"The FCC Media Bureau now acknowledges – as I have maintained – that consumer advocates will need substantially more time to review the complex details of this merger and prepare a sufficient response," said Congresswoman Waters.  "This positive development ensures that the interests of the American public will be weighed before the FCC issues its ruling on the merger."
 
In addition to introducing H.R. 5020, Congresswoman Waters sent a letter to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski requesting an extension of the filing period after the FCC denied the Media Access Project's request.

MAP had sought an extension of the final comment deadline on the Comcast-NBC deal to August 1st (from June 17th) citing an "unusually large" number of comment deadlines on FCC issues coming due in the next couple of months.  MAP had also pointed out that the FCC had not put the deal out for comment until March 18th, after the parties made a supplemental filing, and MAP noted the FCC's requirement that all arguments be made in initial comments.

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