Senate Commerce Chairman Jay Rockefeller, one of the most powerful voices in Congress on telecom policy, told the FCC he’s worried that the $30 billion transaction could have a detrimental impact on consumers and competition.The senator warned FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, in a letter, that the deal could result in higher rates, fewer programming choices, and the blocking of competing online content.Matt Polka, President and CEO of The American Cable Association (ACA), commended senator Rockefeller on his letter to FCC Chairman Genachowski regarding the Comcast-NBCU transaction.”ACA commends Sen. Rockefeller for stressing that the Comcast-NBCU merger is a serious threat to consumers and competition in traditional and online video distribution markets that could lead to higher pay TV subscription rates, justifying consideration of regulatory conditions that would prevent this unprecedented transaction from harming the public interest, says Polka in a release.ACA agrees with Sen. Rockefeller that it would be unacceptable for a transaction like this to lead to further consumer cable rate increases‟.The letter continues as ACA has pointed out many times, effective conditions are necessary because Comcast-NBCU’s grip on major cable and broadcast programming assets will give the media giant the incentive and ability to set the price of the content at unjustifiably high above-market rates for pay TV providers, particularly smaller ones, resulting in less competition and higher consumers bills.
