Pingree starts Comcast/Time Warner merger petition
Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree is leading a national effort against the proposed merger of cable and Internet giants Comcast and Time Warner with a petition asking the U.S. Attorney General to block the deal.
The Portland Press Herald reported Pingree says the merger is likely to reduce competition among cable TV and Internet providers, and consolidate bargaining power that could undermine companies like Hulu or Netflix. Earlier this month, Netflix agreed to pay Comcast for a direct connection to the provider’s broadband networks to ensure streaming video access for its subscribers.
The newspaper reported that the pending deal would add to Time Warner’s base in Maine of around 300,000 customers. The deal still needs approval from the Federal Communications Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice, which enforces federal antitrust regulations.
Early Thursday, Pingree’s petition had gathered about 95,000 signatures.
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