WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) today released the following statements reacting to Comcast Corp.’s decision not to merge with Time Warner Cable:
“Comcast’s proposed merger with Time Warner raised antitrust concerns in both the video and broadband markets,” Lee said. “As chair and ranking member of the Judiciary Committee’s Antitrust Subcommittee, Senator Klobuchar and I sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice urging them to carefully review the merger’s effects on competition. I am glad these agencies took our concerns seriously. I look forward to continuing my oversight work with Senator Klobuchar this Congress. We are both committed to ensuring vigorous competition and protection for consumers in this market.”
“Today’s announcement further illustrates the important role that antitrust enforcement continues to play protecting consumers in quickly changing technology markets,” Klobuchar said. "Both the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division and the Federal Communications Commission thoroughly examined the proposed Comcast/Time Warner merger and concluded that the transaction raised serious concerns, including those that Senator Lee and I highlighted last year around the effect on competition. As ranking member of the Antitrust Subcommittee, I will continue to work with Senator Lee to monitor and review potential consolidation in the communications marketplace to protect consumers and preserve competition.”
