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NY Demands Many More Comcast Freebies as Merger Condition
New York City and State politicians are pushing Comcast to provide free broadband to public housing and expand its low-cost broadband program for the poor if they want to see regulatory approval for their acquisition of Time Warner Cable. According to the NY Times, New York City’s public advocate, Letitia James, and City Councilman Ben Kallos are leading a statewide push to also demand Comcast provide free Wi-Fi in city parks and other locations:
quote:
The group also is asking that Comcast provide free broadband access at senior, youth and community centers as well as in homeless and domestic violence shelters. Also on the list of conditions is free Wi-Fi service in all city public parks and commitments to provide faster speeds. It also is seeking agreements from Comcast to operate under net neutrality, the idea that all Internet content should be treated equally as it flows from content providers to consumers and back.
With New York State recently passing a new rule requiring that mergers actually benefit the public interest, the agency had hinted they'd be fairly tough with their scrutiny of the deal. Whether this could result in a refusal of the deal is unclear, but still unlikely. The New York PSC is scheduled to vote on the deal next month.

Most recommended from 48 comments



Gilitar
join:2012-02-01
Mobile, AL

2 recommendations

Gilitar

Member

Ridiculous!

If Comcast is forced to provide free internet to the housing projects then they will simply pass that cost along to all paying users. This amounts to nothing more than more government welfare. Just a way for someone to earn more votes by giving "free" stuff away.

Flyonthewall
@206.248.154.x

2 recommendations

Flyonthewall

Anon

Freebies are not free.

This should be obvious. All New York officials are doing is giving Comcast license to raise rates on everyone else to pay for these 'perks'. Sell outs is what they are, and dishonest ones at that.