MA Senators Want Feds To Carefully Evaluate Proposed Charter-Time Warner Cable Deal

Massachusetts Senators Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Elizabeth Warren (D–Mass.) sent letters to the U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging the agencies to consider the potential harmful effects that could result from the proposed acquisition of Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks by Charter Communications.

They were joined in sending letters by Senators Al Franken (D-Minn.), Bernie Sanders (I–Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D–Ore.).

The proposed “New Charter” deal would effectively create a nationwide broadband duopoly, leaving New Charter and Comcast largely in control of nearly two-thirds of the nation’s high-speed broadband homes, according to the Massachusetts senators.

The Senators also expressed concern about how the amount of debt New Charter will undertake as a result of the deal could negatively impact any commitments it has made to build out its network, including in rural areas.

“Unfortunately, the proposed deal raises serious concerns about the future of this critical marketplace because it would establish a duopoly in the high-speed broadband industry. Comcast and New Charter’s dual dominance of the market could lead to a number of concrete harms to consumers, including higher prices and fewer innovative services,” wrote the Senators in letters to the Department of Justice and Federal Communications Commission. “New Charter must not only prove that this deal would not harm consumers, but they must also demonstrate that it would actually benefit them and promote the public interest.”