The following can be attributed to the 170 organizational members of the Media Action Grassroots Network (MAG-Net):
Yesterday, Comcast announced its intention to purchase Time Warner. In an era of cable consolidation and high prices, the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice must intervene to prevent this merger.
This proposed merger would combine the first and second largest cable companies in this country. If the merger succeeds, Comcast stands to control the lion's share of the cable market. As a company that has proven itself no friend to workers, consumers, or cities; it's clear that approving a merger that increases Comcast's control over the cable market is bad for business and bad for local communities.
The math is very clear--big, plus bigger, equals monopoly. As a national network representing the needs of the nation's most vulnerable consumers, our members know first hand that telecom mergers are often sold to the public with broken promises of more infrastructure and investment. A Comcast merger would result in neither. Instead, it would mean less competition, higher prices, lower wages and less innovation.
The Federal Communications Commission and Department of Justice must act now to protect the public interest. The stakes are high and the threat is real. While Comcast expands its holdings and profits, local communities lose agency over the media infrastructure that keeps them engaged in democracy.
The Media Action Grassroots Network calls on Tom Wheeler's FCC and the Department of Justice to use their mandate to protect America's most vulnerable consumers, and open up proceedings to allow for real public debate on the impacts of the merger.
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The Media Action Grassroots Network (MAG-Net) is a local-to-local advocacy network of grassroots community organizations working together for media change to end poverty, eliminate racism, and ensure human rights. With over 170 member groups nationwide, regional chapters, an online action network, a media justice learning community, and collaborative campaigns- MAG-Net is advancing an exciting new vision for media justice
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