corporate media ownership

Leaked: AT&T Didn't Want to Expand Rural Coverage Due to $3.8 Billion Price Tag

Stevie Converse — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 08:42:36 -0400

Full article: Business Insider
Matt Rosoff
A leaked legal filing reveals that AT&T was happy to have its 4G network cover 80 percent of Americans, but didn't want to spend the $3.8 billion needed to expand it to the rest of the country. Instead, it decided to spend almost ten times that much to buy T-Mobile.

FCC Rulemaking Invites a Skeptical Review

Stevie Converse — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 12:11:15 -0500

Full article: Seattle Times
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski's draft approval of the proposed merger of cable giant Comcast with NBC Universal gives an extraordinary consolidation of corporate power received a regulator's blessing. Pairing the country's biggest Internet and cable service with a huge broadcast, television and movie interest casts a long shadow on free and open access to competitors and typical Internet users. At least the Justice Department is still looking at the implications of this concentration of power and self-interest in the hands of an Internet gatekeeper.

FCC Chairman Would Conditionally Approve Comcast-NBC Deal

Stevie Converse — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 11:45:13 -0500

Full article: PC Magazine
Chloe Albanesius
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has circulated a draft proposal among his fellow commissioners that would approve the Comcast-NBC Universal deal, with certain conditions. According to FCC procedure, Genachowski's plan will now circulate internally among the four FCC commissioners. They will have the chance to propose amendments to the chairman's proposal, which must be approved by three votes in order to be added.

FCC Likely to Approve Comcast-NBC Deal with Conditions

Stevie Converse — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 11:39:26 -0500

Full article: Los Angeles Times
Joe Flint
The FCC is expected to give its blessing to Comcast's deal to take a controlling interest in General Electric's NBC Universal. There is particular concern that Comcast, loaded with NBC Universal content, will have too much power in determining how the Internet develops as a video medium. Another concern is how Comcast positions its own cable networks vs. its competiors on the dial and may try to require the cable operator to put similar channels near its each other on the dial.

Comcast Must Allow Online Video from Rivals to Win Approval for NBC Deal

Stevie Converse — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 11:31:34 -0500

Full article: Bloomberg
Todd Shields
Comcast must agree to let subscribers view online video from competitors to win approval from regulators to buy NBC Universal, according to proposed conditions outlined by the FCC Commissioner Julius Genachowski. The chairman has concluded that the deal, with conditions, satisfies the public-interest standard Comcast must meet. Others aren't so sure.

Comcast-NBC Merger Gains Traction

Stevie Converse — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 11:27:36 -0500

Full article: Washington Post
Cecilia Kang
The chairman of the FCC said that he will vote to approve the proposed merger of Comcast and NBC Universal as long as certain conditions are met, a significant step toward the formation of a new Internet and media powerhouse. The deal will probably be approved by both the FCC and the Department of Justice, allowing the industry giants to create a media titan that can reach Americans through TV sets, smartphones and computers.

FCC Chair Endorses Comcast-NBC Deal

Stevie Converse — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 11:19:46 -0500

Full article: Home Media Magazine
Chris Tribbey
Julius Genachowski, chairman of the FCC, gave conditional approval to Comcast’s $30 billion merger with NBC on Dec. 23, issuing a draft order to fellow commissioners for their consideration. Free Press, said the conditions won't go far enough and asked the FCC not to "rubber-stamp" the deal, saying if the merger goes through, it will "profoundly transform our media system."

MAP, Free Press, Others Ask FCC to Delay Comcast-NBC Vote

Stevie Converse — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 08:33:49 -0500

Full article: Broadcasting & Cable
John Eggerton
Public interest groups, including Media Access Project and Free Press, have asked the FCC to "defer action" on the Comcast-NBC merger until Comcast makes its programming contracts back to 2006 part of the FCC record in the transaction. They groups say that the FCC staff should review them, and groups like themselves should be able to view them and then comment on them.

FCC Chairman Proposes Conditions to Approve Comcast Merger with NBC

Stevie Converse — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 11:34:53 -0500

Full article: Los Angeles Times
Joe Flint and Meg James
Cable television giant Comcast's yearlong quest to win government approval of its proposed $30-billion merger with NBC Universal took a significant step forward when a key regulator proposed to vote for the deal if the companies agreed to a series of conditions. Consumer groups remain opposed to the deal.

Proposed FCC Order Backs Comcast-NBC Deal With Conditions

Stevie Converse — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 11:20:39 -0500

Full article: National Journal
Juliana Gruenwald
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has begun circulating an order that would approve the proposed merger of Comcast with NBC with narrowly drafted conditions. How the merger would affect the distribution of content online has been a major area of concern for critics of the merger. Free Press says remains skeptical that the proposed conditions on the merger will go far enough to fulfill the public interest requirement of affirmatively promoting localism, diversity and competition.