Netflix has been opposed to the proposed merger between Comcast and Time Warner Cable since the day it was announced. The online video streaming giant today formally petitioned the FCC to put an end to the merger as it would cause “serious public interest harm.” Netflix explains its reasons in a 256-page document which not only points out potential public interest harm, but also aims to establish that the public will have no discernible benefit if both companies are allowed to merge.
As it promised, Netflix has filed a petition to the FCC demanding that it deny the proposed merger between Comcast and Time Warner. The 256-page document claims that it would result in “serious public interest harm,” and no discernible public benefit — two red flags for regulatory bodies. Netflix cited several examples of harm already inflicted on it by Comcast or Time Warner Cable. For one, Comcast has used network congestion as an excuse to “shift Netflix traffic to paid interconnections,” It also argued that data caps have been used as a tactic to deter consumers from third-party streaming companies like Netflix or Hulu. Netflix wrote that a merged cable giant would have huge leverage over it and other internet companies. It said Comcast and TWC’s claims that there is enough competition in the market are disingenuous, since DSL offerings from AT&T and Verizon are often insufficient for Netflix streaming. It added that TWC and Comcast offer competing paid video-on-demand services over broadband and thus have “incentives to interfere” with third-party companies like Netflix.
