Text of FCC Letter by Congresswoman Waters

April 12, 2010

Julius Genachowski                           
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 Twelfth Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554

Dear Chairman Genachowski,

I am very disappointed with the FCC Media Bureau's recent order denying a request to extend the filing period by 45 days for comments and petitions in the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) proceeding on the proposed Comcast acquisition of NBC-Universal.  Given the large number of important matters before the Commission, I write to urgently request that the FCC Commissioners reconsider the Media Bureau's order and extend the comment period in conformity with the extension request filed on March 22, 2010.

Last month, public interest groups filed a request with the FCC for a 45-day extension to file petitions to deny, oppose, and comment on the applications of Comcast Corporation, General Electric Company, and NBC Universal, to assign and transfer control of certain licenses.  An extension of time is especially important in these proceedings given the Commission's request that petitioners raise all issues in their initial filings.  Moreover, the Commission has established filing deadlines in a large number of important proceedings over the next few months.  I firmly believe that given the extensive resources needed to participate in each upcoming proceeding and the complex and significant nature of this transaction, a 45-day extension is necessary and in the public interest.

I have been tracking the Comcast-NBC merger for several months, and I am very concerned about the implications this merger has on diversity, localism, and competition in today's media market.  Today, five companies own America's major broadcast networks, and 90 percent of the top 50 cable networks; produce three-quarters of all prime-time programming; and control 70 percent of the prime time television market share.  These same companies also own the nation's most popular newspapers and 85 percent of the top 20 internet news sites. 

Under the merger before the Commission, America's media industry would be further consolidated with Comcast's majority ownership and control of the nation's largest cable system, which includes: one of the nation's largest networks, 27 broadcast television stations, 12 national cable channels, seven production studios, and several of the fast growing internet properties.  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. 

While the FCC has delegated its Media Bureau the authority to make certain procedural determinations with respect to the Comcast-NBC merger proceedings, I strongly believe that it is in the public interest for the FCC to provide adequate time for all impacted parties to file detailed comments that will greatly assist the Commission in evaluating the impact of Comcast's acquisition of NBC Universal. 

Therefore, I ask that the FCC Commissioners reconsider the Media Bureau's denial and extend the deadline for submission of comments an additional 45 days from the May 3rd deadline. 

Sincerely,

Maxine Waters
Member of Congress

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