Six U.S. senators call for rejection of Comcast-TWC merger

Six U.S. senators on Tuesday asked the Federal Communications Commission and Justice Department to reject the proposed $45 billion merger of the country's largest cable providers, Comcast Corp and Time Warner Cable Inc .

The call came from Democratic Senators Al Franken, Edward Markey, Ron Wyden, Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal, alongside Independent Senator Bernie Sanders, in letters to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.

"Should the transaction survive the FCC's and DOJ's reviews, we believe that Comcast-TWC's unmatched power in the telecommunications industry would lead to higher prices, fewer choices, and poorer quality services for Americans," they wrote in a rare direct call for a rejection by multiple lawmakers.

The company on Tuesday pushed back against the senators' concerns. Spokeswoman Sena Fitzmaurice in a statement said the benefits of the deal were "demonstrated and real," saying they included faster Internet speeds and better video services for more consumers and better connectivity for low-income Americans.

more

http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSL1N0XI1FV20150421?irpc=932