MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - In the latest on the Comcast Merger and transaction, Comcast had promised to send the consultants hired by Meridian Township and others enough information by the end of September to allow them to complete a review of the proposed transfer of the system to GreatLand Communications by December 15th. Instead, the company sent a long description of the transaction details, and promised to provide more information by October 31st. The company also extended the time to act on the transaction until January 15th. This suggests that this deal continues to be in flux, and to raise many concerns regarding impacts on local communities.

“This is a big deal. We are very concerned. Right now we don’t know what the equipment will be for the customers, what the monthly subscriber fees will be, and we don’t have the answers to whether or not the new company has the technical, financial, and legal capabilities of providing a service. We need answers to those basic questions when looking at this proposal,” stated Deborah Guthrie, Meridian Township's Communications Director.

Guthrie also stated that the time frame is not enough, “We've already given the company a heads-up that with the holidays, a 30-day extension from Dec. 15-Jan. 15 is not adequate. We will be working with other communities to propose an alternative deadline.”

Around 2.5 million customers will be affected by the transaction in Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Tennessee and Wisconsin. Given the lengthy filing by Comcast, the FCC has extended the deadline for public comments to October 29, 2014.