The FCC is expected to hire an outsider to oversee review of Comcast’s planned buy of NBC Universal to augment existing staff efforts of what many inside and outside the commission see as a unique deal because of the combination of broadband and cable with broadcast properties, agency and industry officials said. The move would be unusual in that most major transactions before the regulator are solely reviewed by long-time officials, though not unprecedented because of this commission’s hiring of outsiders for various roles. The regulator has looked at hiring existing employees and people outside the agency for the new role, FCC and industry officials said. It decided to hire an external candidate, an agency official said. We couldn’t learn the person’s name. This commission has used outsiders to work on the National Broadband Plan, most notably Blair Levin, who led that work.
Comcast-NBC Universal still may face FCC field hearings even after the Media Bureau denied a request to pause review of the deal until holding the sessions (WID April 6 p3), agency and public interest officials said. Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Michael Copps have expressed support for the idea, and colleagues may not object if the hearings are scheduled, they said. The commission hasn’t made a decision, they said. Representatives of three of the groups that sought the informational hearings said they're optimistic that they'll get at least one. That’s because the two Democratic commissioners want the hearings, and they'd show that the FCC is taking extra steps to be transparent and let people comment on the deal without making a filing, the activists said. A Media Bureau spokeswoman declined to comment. “Having a hearing allows people to go talk to the commissioners and really put a face on it, and I think that’s important to the commission in its review,” said Policy Counsel Corie Wright of Free Press. “I'm hopeful that they realize and acknowledge that that’s the particular role they can play in vetting this merger” as part of the public-interest review. The Media Access Project, another group requesting hearings, will “press very hard for them, and I am cautiously optimistic that we will obtain them,” said Senior Vice President Andrew Schwartzman. “I think that the commission is going to see the broad public concern that’s being raised and this is a commission that is committed to transparency.” A Comcast spokeswoman declined to comment.
Comcast-NBC Universal still may face FCC field hearings even after the Media Bureau denied a request to pause review of the deal until holding the sessions (CD April 6 p10), agency and public interest officials said. Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Michael Copps have expressed support for the idea, and colleagues may not object if the hearings are scheduled, they said. The commission hasn’t made a decision, they said.
A combined Comcast-NBC Universal would have horizontal and vertical competitive harms, said a slide shown to FCC officials last week by the American Cable Association. “By controlling a much larger block of highly demanded programming, the merged entity will be able to charge higher programming fees” to pay-TV providers -- expenses to be borne by subscribers, said another slide. Vertical harm is predicted because Comcast’s profit will be reduced when NBC sells programming to pay-TV operators competing with that cable company. The slides were shown by a professor to Media Bureau Chief Bill Lake, Office of Strategic Planning Chief Paul de Sa, an aide to Chairman Julius Genachowski and other FCC officials, said a Friday filing at http://xrl.us/bhhmb4. Monday, Outdoor Channel CEO Roger Werner wrote Genachowski saying Comcast is a good business partner. Werner asked that a condition Comcast proposed for its plan to buy control of NBC Universal -- in which the cable operator would carry more independently owned cable channels -- include giving broader distribution to “proven independents.” Although the FCC Friday paused its six-month deadline clock for review of Comcast-NBC Universal as it awaits two studies from those companies (CD April 19 p1), commission staffers continue their review of the deal, an agency official said.
The FCC paused its clock on consideration of Comcast’s agreement to buy control of NBC Universal, because staffers want additional information from the companies. Comment deadlines on the deal are on hold until Comcast, NBC Universal and NBCU’s parent, General Electric, provide the information, said a Media Bureau order released Friday. A report will take up “the claimed benefits from the transaction” and another its effect on video distribution online, said the ruling signed by bureau Chief Bill Lake.
The FCC paused its clock on consideration of Comcast’s agreement to buy control of NBC Universal, because staffers want additional information from the companies. Comment deadlines on the deal are on hold until Comcast, NBC Universal and NBCU’s parent, General Electric, provide the information, said a Media Bureau order released Friday. A report will take up “the claimed benefits from the transaction” and another its effect on video distribution online, said the ruling signed by bureau Chief Bill Lake.
Best Buy will partner with the U.K.’s Virgin Media to showcase “the connected digital home” to consumers there, the companies said Wednesday. Best Buy will open its first U.K store next month, and plans to host a “media day” April 26 to preview the flagship location, about a half hour from London (CED April 12 p6). Five more Best Buys will open in the U.K. by year-end. At all outlets, customers will be able to see and try Virgin Media products and services, the partners said, including fiber broadband for data and VOD content downloading and streaming in HD. Virgin set-tops that can pause, play, rewind and record live TV will also be available at the Best Buy stores, as well as Virgin’s cellphone products and services. “The Blueshirts, Best Buy’s expert and impartial in-store team, will be on hand to offer demos, explain how customers can access, share and watch their content on their mobile, laptop or TV, as well as suggesting ways to add more value to existing Virgin Media packages,” the retailer said. Best Buy and Virgin also will emphasize videogaming in the stores, they said. “In response to recent research conducted by Best Buy …, Best Buy’s store in Thurrock will feature the Ultimate Games Experience room,” the retailer said. “This will be kitted out with the latest HDTV home theatre equipment featuring 5.1 surround sound, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 consoles and PC equipment.” The room will be sponsored by Virgin Media, the partners said. Virgin Media already has significant street-presence in the U.K., with 57 stores in major cities London, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Leeds and Leicester. It also has 26 “retail lite” sites in prominent locations at shopping centers across the U.K., plus availability through 4,000 independent retailers.
On April 8, 2010, U.S. Customs and Border Protection held a webinar that provided an update on Automated Commercial Environment and the International Trade Data System Concept of Operations.
The FCC denied a request that it pause review of Comcast’s plan to buy control of NBC Universal until public hearings are held and that a special master get programming information from the companies. They had objected to the request by the Mabuhay Alliance (CD March 23 p10). The March 18 FCC notice seeking comment on Comcast-NBC Universal “established a lengthy pleading cycle” and “an open and transparent forum for public participation by any interested party, and we do not see the logic in delaying that process,” Media Bureau Chief Bill Lake wrote Monday.
The FCC denied a request that it pause review of Comcast’s plan to buy control of NBC Universal until public hearings are held and that a special master get programming information from the companies. They had objected to the request by the Mabuhay Alliance (WID March 23 p4). The March 18 FCC notice seeking comment on Comcast-NBC Universal “established a lengthy pleading cycle” and “an open and transparent forum for public participation by any interested party, and we do not see the logic in delaying that process,” Media Bureau Chief Bill Lake wrote Monday.