Al Franken Drops the Hammer on the Comcast Time-Warner Deal

[babylonsister]

Al Franken Drops the Hammer on the Comcast Time-Warner Deal
By: Sarah Jones
Thursday, February, 13th, 2014, 2:59 pm


Senator Franken does it again. The Democratic Minnesota Senator has created a track record of being one of few lonely voices for the people in DC. Today Senator Franken dropped the hammer on the Comcast Time-Warner merger, saying that the deal needs careful scrutiny. Franken wants federal regulators to protect consumers and act quickly on Comcast’s $40 billion dollar purchase of Time-Warner.

In a letter to the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Federal Communications Commission, Franken said the move could be bad for consumers by driving up cable rates, “I have serious reservations about this proposed transaction, which would consolidate the largest and second largest cable providers in America. I urge you to act quickly and decisively to ensure that consumers are not exposed to increased cable prices and decreased quality of service as a result of this transaction.”

Franken observed that customers are already paying high bills for unsatisfactory service, “Unfortunately, a handful of cable providers dominate the market, leaving consumers with little choice but to pay high bills for often unsatisfactory service.”

Citing rising cable rates, Franken reminded the DOJ, FTC and FCC that Comcast recently acquired NBC Universal, and any further merger would give Comcast too much control over television content.

Not only would this merger give Comcast too much control over content and pricing, but as a long time Comcast customer, I can relate that their accountability to their customers is at an all time low as well as the service provided, and not just in the general crappy customer service way that we have all had to adjust to as big corporations take over our lives.

If our government really cares about consumers, they need to listen to Senator Franken and do a full investigation into Comcast’s customer service and fulfillment of contracted services. A quick Google search, for example, will reveal that Comcast modems/routers are notorious for a double NAT condition that they will deny unless and until a customer with enough followers on Twitter finds the right technician after making a rather huge stink on Twitter (full disclosure: see my Twitter timeline). Instead, they blame third party applications.

more...

http://www.politicususa.com/2014/02/13/al-franken-drops-hammer-comcast-time-warner-deal.html

[ananda]

1. Thank you, Al Franken!

I hope many other senators fall quickly behind you.

[Armstead]

2. How about just saying NO?

The very nature of tis deal is rotten, even if they were two exemplary corporations.

No one company should have THAT much power over our basic communications infrastructure.

[Initech]

13. *ESPECIALLY* with the recent ruling against Net Nutrality.

Only bad things can come from this. Shut it down!

[liberal N proud]

3. Thank you Senator Franken

You truly are a Senator for the people.

[MineralMan]

4. And that's our Senator! Thanks Sen. Franken.

[geardaddy]

7. +1 million

[cui bono]

5. Worse than higher prices is the consolidation of control over content. n/t

[Armstead]

6. Its extremely dangrous for one company to control so much of both

[JRLeft]

8. This deal needs to be nixed

[lpbk2713]

9. Many thanks Al.

Keep their feet to the fire.

[Auggie]

10. I really do appreciate the Senator's effort, but it will take more than his one letter.

[countmyvote4real]

11. Two petitions if you haven't signed yet...

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/stop-comcasttimewarner-cable-merger-and-require-more-competition-cable-industry/ym52vbd4

http://act.freepress.net/sign/consol_comcast_twc/?source=share

[Ruby the Liberal]

12. Google needs to amp up their broadband rollout

Thank you Senator.