The Federal Communications Commission RE: Docket 04-435
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554
Dear FCC Commissioners ,
I strongly urge the FCC to deny the petition of Comcast and Time
Warner in the matter of Adelphia Communications Corporation,
Debtor-in-Possession. The petition does not serve the public
interest.
I oppose the attempt by Comcast and Time Warner to create a
national cable duopoly. This transaction will result in too
great a level of concentration in the cable industry by
undermining the public interest. Consumers will not benefit
because after such a merger, the cable companies will have even
greater incentives to raise rates while reducing expenses by
eroding service quality and community standards. Workers will
not benefit because the cable companies will be even more prone
to attack workers - especially union workers - by cutting jobs,
tearing up negotiated contracts, and denying workers a fair
choice about union representation. Competition and democratic
programming will not benefit because the merger would also allow
the cable companies to restrict the distribution of video
programming and the purchase of video programming by favoring
their programming, blocking competitor's access to popular
programming, and raising advertising rates above competitive
levels.
If the FCC approves the transfer, it must ensure employees will
retain current jobs and their employment rights will be
protected; the new franchise owner will respect and recognize
the collective bargaining status of employees that existed prior
to the transfer; and the new franchise owner will recognize
existing collective bargaining agreements.
It is time for the FCC to protect the public interest and deny
the Comcast-Time Warner petition.
Sincerely,
John Weir
12823 Landing Green Drive
Charlotte, North Carolina 28277