Reply #3: FCC chairman suggests OK to Comcast-NBC merger [View All]

[Joanne98]

Source: Politico


The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday proposed a road map with conditions allowing Comcast to complete its planned purchase of NBC Universal.

Sources tell POLITICO they anticipate Chairman Julius Genachowski will eventually secure the three votes required to allow the country's leading cable provider to combine with one of the top networks early next year. It would complete the FCC's review of a merger that has provoked exceptional political debate over issues like media ownership, diversity and programming.

That timeline could set up a final green light for the merger sometime in January. Still to comment on the deal is the Justice Department, which must also review the deal, though sources do not expect a court challenge.

Senior FCC officials Thursday would describe their conditions only in general terms, noting they would ensure consumers could still access NBC programming through Comcast's competitors, including those on the Web. Those conditions could still change as Genachowski and the other four commissioners discuss the draft order.





Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46755.html