Phillip Dampier

More than a dozen industry-supported non-profit groups turned out in force at last evening’s public hearing in Los Angeles run by the California Public Utilities Commission to ask the regulator to approve the merger of Charter Communications and Time Warner Cable.

But one deal supporter also used the occasion to attack consumer advocacy groups lined up to oppose the deal, without apparently mentioning the fact her group Smart Education counts Time Warner Cable as a major sponsor of the organization.

Liberty Naud told the audience the merger would help California improve its math and science scores and help educate the next generation of entertainment industry employees.

“Last year, the United States was ranked 27th in math, and 28th in science among 34 developed countries,” said Naud, whose group serves the Coachella Valley. “By 2018, we are going to be short 3 million science, technology, engineering and math jobs. How many of our at-risk youth could fill those spots if they had the access that they needed?”

The Los Angeles Times reports Naud took a jab at the consumer advocacy groups and a representative of the Writers Guild of America, West, who opposed the deal.

“Who brings those stories you write to life? Who does the editing and creates the equipment that makes it possible to film those ideas?” Naud said. “Technologists, engineers and sound scientists.  We don’t just need this merger, it is a necessity.”

Stop the Cap! believes you don’t need a math degree to calculate conflict-of-interest. It has been our experience that what often motivates non-profit groups to appear at an obscure hearing in support of a multi-billion dollar cable merger is money. Those financial relationships should always be disclosed at public hearings and in media reports to give the public important context.

It will also come as no surprise we believe Naud’s argument in nonsensical. Should this merger not be approved, Charter and Time Warner Cable will continue to offer service in their respective areas. Charter is proposing new Internet programs for the income-challenged and Time Warner Cable already offers a $14.99 Internet plan open to anyone. Both cable companies set their own policies about rural access, pricing, and discounts to at-risk communities. A merger is not necessary to provoke change.