In a letter this week to Attorney General Eric Holder,
Boston Mayor Thomas Menino said the city believes that Verizon's proposed
purchase of wireless spectrum from cable operators and associated cross-marketing
agreements are anticompetitive, not in the public interest and unlawful.
In a separate letter, he asked Massachusetts attorney general
Martha Coakley to oppose the transaction as well.
Justice and the FCC are currently vetting Verizon's proposed
$3.9 billion purchase from SpectrumCo (Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Bright
House) and Cox.
Boston already filed comments opposing the deal, but in the
letter to Holder emphasizes that he is concerned the deal will mean that
Verizon and Comcast will "never compete" in Boston, "thereby
effectively depriving our community, citizens, small businesses, schools,
hospitals and educational facilities the benefits of video and broadband
competition."
To allow the deal, said Menino, would be to leave Boston
"permanently on the wrong side of the digital divide."
In a similar letter to Coakley, he said he was looking to
her for leadership in opposing the deal.
"Verizon Wireless has made a persuasive case that the
marketing agreements with the cable companies are strongly in the public
interest," said Verizon spokesman Richard Young. "We believe these
agreements will enhance competition, allowing Verizon Wireless to take market
share from other wireless companies, while allowing cable companies to more
vigorously compete by enabling them to offer wireless services as part of a
triple or quad-play package of services. As a result of these enhanced
offers, Verizon believes consumers will benefit with a variety of new packages
and services."
