From WNYC in New York, this is NPR's On the Media.

I'm Brooke Gladstone.

And I'm Bob Garfield.

This week, the Bush administration's Lazy Faire Federal Communications Commission approved a series of license transfers in effect completing the merger of cable giants Comcast and AT&T broadband.

The combined company, which will be called AT&T Comcast, will control nearly 30% of all cable service nationwide.

Such distribution clout worries consumer advocates who believe giant providers will ultimately increase costs and control programming content, not only in TV, but on the

internet. Joining us now to answer those concerns is Ken Ferry, head of FCC's Media Bureau.

Ken, welcome to OTM.

Good morning, Bob. Tell us first how this merger will play out in the day-to-day use of cable

TV and broadband. Well, probably the average consumer will not see any immediate change in either their service or prices.

One of the unique aspects of cable combinations like this one is that the operators don't compete against each other in the same markets.

In other words, these operations are, by their very nature of monopolies where they operate,

and it doesn't matter to the consumer whether their cable provider is part of a gigantic corporation or just a local one.

Well, I'm not sure I'd use the term monopolies where they operate.

Usually they're the only large cable company in their franchise areas.

Often there are smaller overbuilders.

And of course there are two DBS providers that are available to most subscribers.

So in most markets, people have a choice of at least three multi-channel video programming

service distributors, sometimes four or more, and none of

that changes as a result of this combination.

Well, let me ask you a question.

In my particular area, I'm served by Cox Communications.

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