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The Honorable Julius Genachowski
Chainnan.
Federal Communications Commission
445 12
th
Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554
June 21, 2010
Re: MB Docket No. 10-56
Chainnan Genachowski,
We understand that the Federal Communication Commission is reviewing the
proposed joint venture between Comcast and General Electric (GE) that provides for
Comcast assuming management and operational control ofNBC Universal (NBCU). We
appreciate the Commission's careful and thorough examination ofthis transaction to
ensure that final approval promotes our national communications policy goals of
competition, localism, innovation, investment and diversity. We support the transaction
and urge the Commission to conclude its review process before the end ofthe year.
Comcast, GE, and NBCU have a strong presence in New Jersey and contribute to
our State's economic growth. Collectively, these companies contribute more than 7,500
well paying jobs and over $750 million in annual payroll and benefits to the state.
Comcast alone reports more than 4,700 employees and has 186 facilities, offices and call
centers in New Jersey. And Comcast advises us that since 1996, it has invested more
than $3.6 billion in the state's technological and infrastructure development. GE energy
and healthcare businesses have sites in ten major cities throughout the state; and NBCU,
with four sites in New Jersey, has over 800 employees in the state. The world
headquarters ofCNBC are located in Englewood Cliffs.
The combination ofComcast's media expertise with NBCU's content businesses
promises many jienefits to consumers. As the parties stated in their Public Interest
Statement filedwith the Commission, "the new NBCU will be able to increase the
quantity, quality, diversity and localfocus ofits content, and accelerate the arrival ofthe
multiplatfonn, 'anytime, anywhere' future ofvideo programming that Americans want."
Based on their track record in New Jersey, we believe Comcast and NBCU should be
given the opportunity to deliver these objectives.
We are pleased that Comcast and NBCU have presented a set ofthoughtful
commitments to ensure that this transaction promotes competition, localism, innovation,
investment and diversity. We also appreciate their "diversity commitments" to promote
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opportunities for'minority ownership and programming, in addition to minority
employment, supplier diversity and community investment.
The parties have explained to us that their proposed joint venture is about
investing in and growing NBCU, We have every confidence that the once the companies
combine, they will follow through on their goal to make NBCU a more successful
business, and to continue to provide good jobs' for thousands ofNew Jerseyans. The
parties have proven'to be responsible'corpon'lte leaders in their relationships with the
people ofNew Jersey. We have no doubt they will exercise the same level ofintegrity in
this new joint venture.
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Member ofCongress
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Member ofCongress
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Steven R. Rothman
Member ofCongress
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Leonard Lance,
Member ofCongtess
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Robert E. Andrews
Member ofCongress
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Christopher H. Smith
Member ofCongress
CC: Commissioner Michael J. Copps
Commissioner Robert M. McDoweIl
Commissioner Mignon Clyburn
Commissioner Meredith AttweIl Baker