Comcast's Roberts Meets With Commissioners To Urge Deal Approval

Comcast Chairman Brian Roberts had separate meetings last week with representatives of the three Federal Communications Commission members most likely to be the securest votes for approval of the Comcast/NBCU merger.

According to an ex parte filing, Roberts on Jan. 6 met with the two Republican commissioners, Robert McDowell and Meredith Attwell Baker, as well as Ed Lazarus, chief of staff to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, to urge the FCC to approve the merger. On the same day, Kathy Zachem , Comcast VP, regulatory and state affairs, met with a top media advisor to FCC Commissioner Michael Copps who is a veteran media consolidation critic and continues to have issues with the deal, according to an aide, including with its impact on small cable operators, local news and online access conditions.