As the public comment period for the impending Comcast-Time Warner Cable merger draws to a close, Mayor Bill de Blasio has made his comment and request to the Federal Communications Commission asking that the companies do more for the city's "public interest," Next City reports.
For de Blasio, the merger is an opportunity to not only address the city's needs for better infrastructure and access, but also do better at meeting the needs of low-income residents.
De Blasio's wish list includes the following:
- Affordable access for low-income and other underserved residents, including the elderly and persons with disabilities
- Transparent accounting of rate changes
- Improved customer service and notification
- Timely upgrading of infrastructure to fiber optic cable
- Expansion of affordable broadband infrastructure and services to geographic locations where they are lacking
- Support for municipal access and resiliency initiatives
- Meaningful and stable support for public, educational and government channels
- Protection and promotion of an open Internet, through Net Neutrality commitments