Comcast NBCU concessions include 'ten-dollar' broadband

Comcast’s concessions to win approval for its merger with NBC Universal include a $9.95/month high-speed Internet service for people earning less than $20,000/year.

Perhaps that concession comes in light of recent research that shows the deal may raise TV prices for consumers. The argument against the deal is that the likes of DirecTV, Dish, RCN, Verizon and AT&T might have to negotiate for access to premium programming, at which point Comcast could hold out for higher prices. Those higher charges for programming would possibly be passed on to subscribers. Although Comcast seems optimistic that the deal will be approved by January, many hope the Comcast sales pitch won't blur the FCC’s vision in considering objectively the full impact of the deal on telecom providers, Web TV players and competitors in satellite and cable. Consumer advocacy groups and legislators amped it up in the last couple weeks. For example, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has called on the FCC to block the deal, stating "If this merger is approved, I have little doubt that Comcast-NBCU will retain hundreds of attorneys and lobbyists to exploit gaps and loopholes in any conditions and regulations," he said in a statement. "Once we allow companies to become this powerful, the FCC does not regulate them. They regulate the FCC."