Yesterday, Public Knowledge filed comments in the Federal Communications Commission’s recent inquiry addressing the state of competition in the market for the delivery of video programming. The agency is seeking input on the state of competition in the video marketplace — an effort that can provide a foundation for future agency policymaking.
The following can be attributed to John Bergmayer, Senior Policy Counsel at Public Knowledge:
“In this filing, we call attention to the effects ongoing consolidation have had on the state of video competition, in particular the ways that the proposed mergers between AT&T and Time Warner, and Sinclair and Tribune Media, could harm consumers through higher prices and reduced access to diverse content.
“When evaluating the state of video competition, the Commission should take note of the increasing trend toward horizontal and vertical concentration as well as pending mergers. We urge the Commission to strengthen its media rules to serve the public interest, protect consumers, and promote diversity in the 21st century.”
You may view the filing here.
Members of the media may contact Communications Director Shiva Stella with inquiries, interview requests, or to join the Public Knowledge press list at shiva@publicknowledge.org or 405-249-9435.