"The acquisition will be subject to government approval — and it is already raising concerns in the industry. The deal would combine two of the top four pay-TV companies in the marketplace.

"Free Press President and CEO Craig Aaron said the deal combining the two would mean higher prices. 'In an already uncompetitive market with high prices that keep going up and up, a merger of the two biggest cable companies should be unthinkable,' he said. 'This deal would be a disaster for consumers and must be stopped.'

"The Justice Department or the Federal Trade Commission will examine the deal for antitrust concerns, and the Federal Communications Commission will decide if the merger is in the public interest. ...

"Recent deals have been rejected by the federal government. The Justice Department and the FCC said no to AT&T's attempt to take over T-Mobile — a deal that would have combined the number two and number four wireless operators."