Congress Scrutinizing Comcast-TWC

The proposed merger of Comcast and Time Warner Cable, announced last week, is already drawing scrutiny and opposition from members of Congress, The Hill reports.  House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and antitrust subcommittee Chairman Spencer Bachus (R-AL) have announced plans to hold an oversight hearing (see press release here).

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) released a noncommittal statement indicating that he would be watching the response of the antitrust authorities and the Federal Communications Commission.  Fellow Senator Al Franken (D-MN), who was quite publicly objected to AT&T’s failed acquisition of T-Mobile, has been far more vocal in his opposition, urging FCC Chairman Wheeler, Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Ramirez, and Attorney General Holder to oppose further concentration in the industry.

The full article may be found here.

posted by Anant Raut

This Week in Congress

Tuesday, Dec. 3rd
“The FTC at 100:  Where Do We Go From Here?”

On Tuesday, the House Energy & Commerce Committee will hold a hearing entitled “The FTC at 100:  Where Do We Go From Here?”  Scheduled to appear are all four sitting FTC Commissioners.

As the hearing is being held by the Energy & Commerce Committee whose jurisdiction is limited to the consumer protection side of the FTC, antitrust enforcement and policy is not expected to be a topic of this hearing.

2123 Rayburn @10:00 a.m.

posted by Anant Raut

FTC Responds to Klobuchar, Grassley Ltr

Last week, we reported that Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) had sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission expressing their concerns that Big Oil was using unlawful methods of competition to limit the availability of renewable fuels at gas stations.  The Des Moines Register reports that FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez has responded with what reads like a fairly noncommittal letter promising to review the information provided, although both Senators expressed their appreciation that the Commission is taking their allegations seriously.

More information about the FTC’s response may be found here.

posted by Anant Raut

Sen. Klobuchar Urges FTC Action on Patent Trolls

In a letter sent yesterday to all four Commissioners of the Federal Trade Commission, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chairwoman of the Senate antitrust subcommittee, urged the Commission to act on remarks made by FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez last week and commence a Section 6(b) study of the abusive practices of patent assertion entities (aka, “patent trolls”).  In the same letter, Sen. Klobuchar also urged more immediate enforcement action.

A copy of the letter may be found here.

posted by Anant Raut