Upton urges FCC to finish Comcast-NBC merger review
Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich), the incoming chairman of the House energy and commerce committee urged the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission to wrap up the agency's review of Comcast's proposed merger with NBC Universal and resist imposing conditions that don't apply directly to the deal.
"Do not let opportunistic competitors or special interest groups undermine your regulatory process by using the transaction review as a vehicle to implement their industry-wide policy wish lists or unwarranted conditions," Upton said in his letter.
The key lawmaker's letter, sent Monday, follows comments by Democratic lawmakers who have called for the FCC to attach a laundry list of conditions to the deal, including promises by the merged company to distribute NBC shows and movies to new online television competitors.
Upton called for the FCC to complete its merger review by the end of the year. That would be ambitious, analysts say, given how long it took the agency to deliberate a controversial net-neutrality proposal.
Related story:
Comcast/NBC merger ignites TV access battle
By
Cecilia Kang
| December 13, 2010; 8:30 PM ET
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