FCC Commissioner Rosenworcel: Telecom mergers the result of online competition

Mergers in the communications space are a reaction to increasing competition from online and other video providers, according to Federal Communications Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel.

As online video grows and Internet access increases, “we’re going to all be sovereign and capable of curating all sorts of activities using web-based functions [in] the future,” she said.

Without commenting on any specific proposed or reported mergers, Commissioner Rosenworcel said the consolidation in the telecom industry is a reaction to the increased competition traditional video companies face from online video. “I think all of the activity you’re seeing right now is a response to that change,” she said.