Comcast has absorbed a lot of criticism since its decision last week to hire Meredith Attwell Baker, a sitting member of the Federal Communications Commission.
But one critical remark really got under the company's skin.
When an employee of Reel
Grrls, a nonprofit educational program in Seattle, sent a tweet questioning Baker's hiring after the commissioner voted to approve Comcast's mega-venture with NBC Universal, Comcast's reaction was swift and harsh.
The company cut off funding for Reel Grrls' summer camp, where 15 teenage girls learn documentary script writing, editing and filmmaking.
The reaction to the funding cutoff was also severe — and added to consumer advocates' criticism of Comcast. Some are trying to drum up a congressional investigation into whether Baker's new job presents a conflict of interest. Baker had criticized the FCC's review of Comcast's joint venture with NBC Universal for taking too long and voted in favor of the merger in a
4 to 1 decision in January.
The apparent revolving door has been the fodder of satire and criticism by late-night TV comedians, newspaper editorials and consumer groups. And the move by Comcast to scrap funding for a small nonprofit for questioning Baker's appointment only shows how influential a giant media company can be, the critics say.
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