Charter Communications has announced plans to buy Time Warner Cable, creating an $80 billion monster. We need to oppose this deal for the same reasons we successfully supported net neutrality and opposed the TWC/Comcast merger!
Fewer companies controlling America's telecommunications means even more influence for powerful billionaires. This deal would mean "Comcast and the newly enlarged Charter will all but control the nation's landline high-speed broadband connection."
Larger telecomm companies undermine the democratic Internet, where everyone has freedom to create, speak out, and enjoy the content they want. Remember the way Comcast bullied Netflix and opposed net neutrality? Why would a giant Charter/TWC be any different?
Customer service and prices will get worse. Even with less overheard, the reduced competition means Charter/TWC would be able to raise rates. Would that really be a surprise from a company with some of the country's worst customer service? And does anyone really expect bigger bureaucracy and decreased competition to improve service?
This deal has the same downsides as the Comcast/TWC merger would have, but becasue it's not quite as big, it's getting less attention - which means it's more likely to be approved. That makes it all the more important that we speak out.
Tell the FCC and DOJ to protect customers - reject the consolidation of TWC and Charter!
