Comcast Corp., the largest cable company in the U.S., is moving to combine with its chief competitor, Time Warner Inc., the second largest cable company in the U.S. Because the deal would further consolidate the telecommunications industry, it is likely to face scrutiny from federal officials - possibly from an antitrust perspective at the Department of Justice, but more likely from a public interest perspective at the Federal Communications Commission.
Comcast has been among the top corporate donors to members of Congress, and following the money shows [taken from OpenSecrets.org data] that they have been focusing their giving on members of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, which has jurisdiction over the Federal Communications Commission.
House members of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology received $853,525 from Comcast from January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2012. Comcast contributions to all House members total $6,678,446 from January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2012. Representative Greg Walden ( R-OR), chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology has received $53,000 from Comcast while Representative John Dingell (D-MI), a committee member, has received $100,775 from Comcast more than any other member of the House of Representatives.
Pamela Behrsin, Maplight.org, Berkeley, CA
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