Columnist Gil Smart write in “Comcast tightens hold on consumers”:
“Comcast, the nation’s largest cable provider, announced last week that it plans to swallow Time-Warner, the second-biggest. The combined company would control half of the “triple-play” services — video, voice and Internet — in America. The late Sen. Robert Sherman, namesake of the Sherman Antitrust Act, must be spinning like a top in his grave…
“But the deal may be even more daunting when you consider that the proposed merger could give the new company, Comcast on Steroids, a whopping 37 percent of the U.S. broadband market…
“The FCC ought to be investigating ways to remedy this situation, not exacerbate it — which is what approving the Comcast-Time Warner deal would do…”
WATCHDOG: Two wags of the tail. The prices charged by oligopoly Comcast are outrageous, which is what has made the company so profitable.
As Smart opines, the FCC should be encouraging competition, perhaps by breaking up Comcast, rather than allowing it to add to its monopolistic powers.
Fat chance to get a monopoly prosecution started. Comcast spent over $2 million in political contributions and almost 19 million lobbying. Source: Open secrets web site.
I find is it interesting that Smart/LNP would come down so hard on a monopoly like Comcast, when they are the epitome of a news organization monopoly. What is good for the goose is good for the gander…..
SOMEONE should be investigating/reporting how much LNP/PSP is profiting from a government/taxpayer golden goose Marriott Hotel that is connected to a white elephant Convention Center. Taxpayers are funding those profits!!!!!!