Industry, Labor and Consumer Groups Unite to Raise Concerns about Cable Giant Comcast’s Proposed Takeover of NBC

WASHINGTON - An ad hoc group of industry, labor and public interest organizations
from both the Left and the Right expressed grave concern about the
proposed Comcast takeover of NBC in an open letter to President Obama and Congress.

Free Press Policy Counsel Corie Wright said the
groups share common concerns that Comcast control of NBC would mean
less competition and higher costs for consumers. "Groups that seldom
work on the same side of an issue agree that the merger of media giants
would only hurt the media landscape and further diminish independent
content and voices," Wright said. "Both conservative and liberal groups
fear that this media mega-merger would result in even less diverse
programming than we have now."

Wright noted that the letter also includes industry associations
like the American Cable Association and the Satellite Broadcasting and
Communications Association, which agree it will be harder on smaller
competitors if the government allows the cable giant to get even
bigger. Wright added, "Several consumer groups, including Free Press,
oppose the proposed merger because it will mean prices will likely go
up for consumers."

Thousands of Americans have voiced concern about the effect of this merger via www.freepress.net/comcast.

The signatories to the letter include:

American Cable Association

Center for Media Justice

Common Cause

Communications Workers of America

Concerned Women of America

Consumer Federation of America

Consumers Union

Free Press

Kids First Coalition

Media Action Grassroots Network

Media Access Project

Media and Democracy Coalition

Morality in Media

National Association of Independent Networks

National Consumer League

National Organization for Women

National Telecommunications Cooperative Association

Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies

Parents Television Council

Public Knowledge

Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association

Sports Fans Coalition

U.S. PIRG

Writers Guild of America East

Writers Guild of America West

Read the letter here: www.freepress.net/files/Comcast_NBC_Letter.pdf