Freedom of the airwaves is dying a slow death, thanks to a spineless FCC and president.

This was a president who promised lobbyists would not get to him. They have and the gigantic merger of Comcast and NBC, approved by the FCC Jan. 17, is a prime example.

President Obama's campaign promise in June 2008: "I strongly favor diversity of ownership of outlets and protection against the excessive concentration of power in the hands of one corporation, interest or small group. I strongly believe that all citizens should be able to receive information from the broadest range of sources."

Regarding the recent merger, NBC owned 25 TV stations in the U.S. plus the following cable outlets: Bravo, Chiller, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, USA Network, Weather Channel, Sleuth and Syfy. It also owned Universal Pictures, theme parks and much more. NBC's 2009 revenue was $156 billion!

Comcast is the largest cable provider in the U.S. Its revenue was $35 billion in 2009. But how can the smaller Comcast buy such a huge company? Look at their 2009 annual report:

2009 Consolidated Revenue Increased 3.9 percent

2009 Consolidated Operating Cash Flow Increased 4.4 percent

2009 Consolidated Operating Income Increased 7.2 percent

2009 Earnings per Share of $1.26 Increased 46.5 percent

2009 Free Cash Flow of $4.4 Billion Increased 20.8 percent

Repurchased 49.8 Million Common Shares in 2009 for $765 Million; Repurchased $300 Million in the 4th Quarter

While many Americans were suffering through the Great Depression in 2009, Comcast was a cash cow.

Obama also said this during his campaign about media concentration: "There is a clear need in this country for the reinvigoration of antitrust enforcement...to step up review of merger activity and take effective action to stop or restructure those mergers that are likely to harm consumer welfare."

You better believe that Comcast will not keep your cable and Internet bills the same. Despite FCC chairman Julius Genachowski's promise that restrictions will apply, all bets are off as those rules will probably be voluntary or will expire in a few years. Then watch your cable, Internet bills go out of sight.

What's the answer? Cleanup a corrupt Washington DC! It is run by lobbyists whose interest is certainly not yours. With massive political spending at an all time high, the voice of democracy is being bullied about by special interests such as the NAB, the National Association of Broadcasters, which would like to see newspapers and TV ownership the same in any city; thus eliminating any meaningful, thoughtful, independent voice.

The only FCC commissioner to vote against the NBC/Comcast merger was Michael Copps, who has appeared in many Seattle hearings on these same issues. At least there is one voice for freedom on the commission!

We have been told in years past that the airwaves are owned by us. You don't hear that from the nation's capitol anymore.

Bill Wippel
Normandy Park