G.O.P. Proposed Law Would Restrict FCC's Authority To Nix, Condition Mergers

Greg Walden

Rep. GREG WALDEN (R-OR), Chairman of the House Communications and Technology Subcommittee, and Sen. DEAN HELLER (R-NV) are introducing bills to restrict the FCC's ability to restrict or reject corporate mergers in the communications industry.

REUTERS reports that the proposal would restrict what conditions the Commission could place on a merger and would require the FCC to specify a particular market failure or harm, with cost-benefit analysis attached, to justify restrictions, and could not go further in requiring conditions or considering voluntary commitments by the companies beyond the narrow scope of the merger.

Such a bill may pass the Republican-majority Congress but is less likely to survive the Democrat-controlled Senate.

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