FCC Public Forum on Comcast-NBCU/GE Joint Venture (updated w/agenda)

FCC Public Forum on Comcast-NBCU/GE Joint Venture

Tuesday, July 13, 2010
1:00 - 8:00 p.m.

The Federal Communications Commission will hold a public forum to discuss the Comcast/NBCU/GE joint venture proposal. The forum will consist of two panels in the afternoon, followed by a special segment from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. for the public to ask questions and share their views about the proposed merger.

Agenda and Panelists
(Central Standard Time)

1:00 p.m. Introduction and Opening Remarks
Commissioner Michael Copps, Federal Communications Commission

1:15 p.m. Panel 1: Online Video Distribution Considerations
John Flynn, Senior Counsel to the Chairman for Transactions, FCC (Moderator)

  • Jeffrey Blum, Deputy General Counsel, DISH Network
  • Susan Crawford, Professor, Cardozo Law School, and Visiting Research Collaborator, Princeton University
  • Markham C. Erickson, Partner, Holch & Erickson LLP, and Executive Director, NetCoalition
  • Travis Parsons, Senior Director, Business Development, Sezmi
  • Josh Silver, President and CEO, Free Press
  • Scott Wallsten, Vice President for Research and Senior Fellow, Technology Policy Institute
  • Susan Whiting, Vice Chair, The Nielsen Company

3:00 p.m. Break

3:15 p.m. Panel 2: Multichannel Video Programming Distributor Considerations
William Lake, Chief, Media Bureau, FCC (Moderator)

  • Colleen Abdoulah, President and CEO, WOW! Internet, Cable and Phone
  • Tyrone Brown, President, Media Access Project
  • Brian Lawlor, President-Chairman, NBC Television Affiliates and Senior Vice President of Television, The E.W. Scripps Company
  • William Rogerson, Professor of Economics, Northwestern University
  • Ken Solomon, Chairman & CEO, The Tennis Channel
  • James Speta, Professor, Northwestern University School of Law

5:00 p.m. Break

6:00 p.m. Public Comments

8:00 p.m. Adjournment

Open captioning of the forum will be provided. Other reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. Include a description of the accommodation you will need and a way we can contact you if more information is needed. Last-minute requests will be accepted, but may not be possible to fill. Send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty).

For further information, please contact Jessica Almond by phone, 202-418-2721 or email, jessica.almond@fcc.gov.