The consumer will lose if the Charter-Time Warner merger goes through

From Free Press Action Fund:

This week, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler admitted that he “has not done enough” to encourage competition between cable giants.1

We appreciate the chairman's sentiments — and have something he can do right now: Block the $90 billion merger between Charter and Time Warner Cable.

In fact, Wheeler has all the power he needs to stop this deal, a move that would encourage competition rather than crush it.

Take action now: Tell Chairman Wheeler to stop Charter.

If this merger is approved, Charter and Comcast would offer service to nearly 80 percent of U.S. homes.

Together they would have unprecedented control over our ability to connect and communicate. Without any other meaningful competition, they’d be able to charge us whatever they want for our connections. Higher prices would leave even more people on the wrong side of the digital divide — hitting low-income communities of color the hardest.

Wheeler knows "digital divide" isn't just some wonky term — it’s a chasm that affects people's day-to-day lives.2

Here’s the question: Will Wheeler do more to encourage competition — or will he stand with Big Cable? The choice is his.

Tell Wheeler to stop Charter before it gobbles up the competition, raises rates and makes it even harder for people to get online.

Thanks for all that you do—

Mary Alice, Candace, Lucia and the rest of the Free Press team
freepress.net

P.S. Rumor has it that the FCC could vote on Charter’s takeover of Time Warner Cable as soon as March. Your voice is needed right now: Tell Chairman Wheeler to block the merger. Thank you!

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