Congresswoman Waters Introduces Bill Requiring FCC to Extend Comment Period on Comcast-NBC Merger

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) today introduced H.R. 5020, requiring the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to extend the deadline for filing comments on Comcast's proposed acquisition of NBC Universal (NBCU) for an additional 45 days.  The legislation has 50 original co-sponsors, including the majority of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Under the merger agreement, Comcast would gain majority ownership of NBCU's two broadcast television networks (NBC and Telemundo), its 26 locally owned and operated broadcast TV stations, several national cable programming networks, a motion picture studio, an international theme park business and its online content businesses.

"Comcast is already the nation's biggest cable and Internet provider, and its acquisition of NBC Universal's vast broadcast, cable and online businesses and other holdings raises concerns," said Congresswoman Waters.  "Everyone who watches TV or uses the Internet – in other words almost every American – will be affected by this merger, so I want to make sure that individuals and public interest groups are allowed to file comments before the FCC completes its review."

H.R. 5020 is supported by a diverse group of organizations including Consumers Union, Free Press, the Media Access Project, Communications Workers of America, Parents Television Council, Public Knowledge, National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and the Greenlining Institute.  The bill can be found at

Earlier this week, Congresswoman Waters sent a letter to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski requesting that the FCC Commissioners reconsider the FCC Media Bureau's recent denial of a request to extend the filing period by 45 days.  She emphasized that an extension of time is especially important because preparing comments on such a complex transaction is a significant undertaking, especially at a time when many of the same consumer advocates are simultaneously preparing comments on other issues before the FCC.
 

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