Lawmakers have doubts over Comcast-NBCU deal

Representatives Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.) wrote letters to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski, citing potential issues that could affect competition in the television market, as well as with how consumers are presented with content.

"The proposed Comcast-NBCU transaction would allow Comcast to acquire an unprecedented concentration of national programming assets," Congressman Markey wrote to the FCC. "The joint venture would give Comcast the power, should it choose to exercise it, to deny programming to its cable, satellite, or online competitors or charge inflated prices for it."

Markey went on to say that he would like to see the FCC, if it approves the merger, require "arbitration and standstill mechanisms for Comcast-NBCU's broadcast and national programming." Arbitration would be used if the newly formed company faced arguments with third parties over its programming availability.

For more on this story, see Lawmakers fret over Comcast-NBCU deal on CNET News.