Sen Franken calls on FCC to enforce merger conditions on Comcast

Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) wrote to the Federal Communications Commission and Justice Department urging them to enforce a condition attached to the NBC Universal-Comcast merger that requires all news channels to be grouped in the same neighborhood.

Sen Franken called Comcast's attempt to challenge the condition rather than negotiate to reach a solution a troubling indication the cable giant plans to fight over the language of the merger conditions rather than attempt to implement them in good faith. Sen Franken said he fears that other stakeholders such as small online video providers and independent channels may not have the resources of a Bloomberg to file a complaint and see it to fruition. He urged the FCC to examine the dispute and act if Comcast has violated the neighborhooding condition. Sen Franken also said he hopes that if a violation is found, the FCC considers extending the length the conditions apply to match the date Comcast first came into compliance with them.