N.J. Division of Ratepayer Advocate told FCC it’s concerned that ...
N.J. Division of Ratepayer Advocate told FCC it’s concerned that merger of AT&T Broadband and Comcast would “stifle potential competition in the cable and broadband marketplace in New Jersey, ultimately resulting in higher prices coupled with lower service quality,…
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
If your job depends on informed compliance, you need International Trade Today. Delivered every business day and available any time online, only International Trade Today helps you stay current on the increasingly complex international trade regulatory environment.
an outcome that would not in the public interest.” Reply comments on proposed merger were due Tues. at FCC, which, along with DOJ, is considering deal. N.J. Ratepayer Advocate said merger would raise level of concentration in cable industry to “unparalleled levels” and reinforce monopoly power. It also said companies hadn’t proved they would deploy cable telephony once merger was approved, calling their pledge to do so “empty promises.” Advocate also said it was concerned about merged company potentially withholding programming it owned from its competitors, as well as what it called need for independent ISPs on cable’s high-speed data plant. Advocate urged FCC to impose conditions on merger that would preserve competition in all areas. RCN Telecom Services, in its reply comments, said merger would create company with monopsony power “and the opportunity and incentive to abuse it.” RCN Telecom said FCC should either deny merger or impose conditions that would allow access for competitors to affiliated programming on nondiscriminatory terms, prohibit exclusive arrangements with suppliers of programming and essential technologies, require uniform subscriber pricing to deter company from engaging in predatory pricing, sales and marketing.