The agenda and roster of participants of the FCC field trip to discuss the pending merger of Comcast and NBCW Universal is now a matter of public record. The two panels will feature regulators, competitors, watchdogs, academics, and a representative of NBC-affiliated stations – and nobody from either Comcast or NBCU.
Here’s the agenda along with the guest list:
1:00 PM: Introduction and Opening Remarks
* Commissioner Michael Copps, Federal Communications Commission
1:15 PM: Panel 1: Online Video Distribution Considerations
* John Flynn, Senior Counsel to the Chairman for Transactions, FCC (Moderator)
* Jeffrey Blum, Deputy General Counsel, DISH Network
* Susan Crawford, Professor, Cardozo Law School, and Visiting Research Collaborator, Princeton University
* Markham C. Erickson, Partner, Holch & Erickson LLP, and Executive Director, NetCoalition
* Travis Parsons, Senior Director, Business Development, Sezmi
* Josh Silver, President and CEO, Free Press
* Scott Wallsten, Vice President for Research and Senior Fellow, Technology Policy Institute
* Susan Whiting, Vice Chair, The Nielsen Company
3:00 PM: Break
3:15 PM: Panel 2: Multichannel Video Programming Distributor Considerations
* William Lake, Chief, Media Bureau, FCC (Moderator)
* Colleen Abdoulah, President and CEO, WOW! Internet, Cable and Phone
* Tyrone Brown, President, Media Access Project
* Brian Lawlor, President-Chairman, NBC Television Affiliates and SVP of Television, The E.W. Scripps Company
* William Rogerson, Professor of Economics, Northwestern University
* Ken Solomon, Chairman & CEO, The Tennis Channel
* James Speta, Professor, Northwestern University School of Law
5:00 PM: Break
6:00 PM: Public Comments
8:00 PM: Adjournment
RBR-TVBR observation: Hmmmmm. Michael Copps. Anti-consolidation watchdogs. Competitors, many with very specific bones they may wish to pick. This could be a long day for Comcast and NBCU.
