Rep. Boucher lists conditions for NBCU-Comcast merger

Rep Rick Boucher (D-VA), chairman of the House Communications Subcommittee, wrote to the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice on August 2 expressing his support for the proposed merger between NBC Universal and Comcast, provided the two firms agree to a set of conditions aimed at protecting consumers.

Boucher's letter urges the FCC to approve the merger, but only if Comcast and NBC Universal agree not to start restricting access to content that is currently available for free on the Internet or via over-the-air broadcasts. Specifically, Chairman Boucher says content currently available for free on NBC's website should not migrate to any other paid online platform. The letter also states that the new entity created by the merger should not be allowed to enter into exclusive contracts that would restrict online video content to proprietary platforms. Chairman Boucher also urges the FCC not to impose any net-neutrality conditions on Comcast as part of the merger, citing the discussions underway between government and industry stakeholders over potential legislation. He writes that such conditions should apply equally to all broadband providers and that imposing them on Comcast alone would be highly inappropriate.