What Others Are Saying
Will Griffin, CEO, Hip Hop On Demand
"Comcast has the best infrastructure of inclusion to build upon in the media industry."
Alfred Liggins, Chairman, TVOne
"Based upon my eight year relationship with Comcast, I can offer a personal testament to Comcast's commitment to TV diversity."
Javier Palomarez, President and CEO, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
"Comcast has demonstrated its commitment to working with the USHCC to identify Hispanic-owned businesses as potential vendors and partners. While Comcast has been successful in working with Hispanic owned businesses, it is always interested in new ways to increase the diversity of its suppliers."
"We are confident that Comcast and NBCU will be working closely with the USHCC as a responsible corporate partner, and believe that re-launching Hispanics Today will help fill the void in Hispanic programming to meet the promise of increasing in front of and behind the camera presence of Hispanics."
Dr. Michael Chang, Executive Director, Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute
"Comcast has been a long-time partner supporting our programs. Comcast's own efforts in diversity recruiting and encouraging diversity among its suppliers are exemplary."
"Comcast's own efforts in diversity recruiting and encouraging diversity among its suppliers are exemplary."
Reverend Al Sharpton, National Action Network, Inc.
"The Comcast/NBCU joint venture has the potential to mark a new era in media and communications in which all consumers, from every demographic background, can more easily and economically reap the benefits of easy access to content across multiple platforms. I also believe that minority advertisers will benefit from the economies of scale as well as from the niche marketing capabilities of the new venture."
"Given the potential benefits of the deal and Comcast's strong record of commitment to diversity, I am thus favorably inclined toward its approval. I believe that this venture can offer useful benefits for African American media and Internet entrepreneurs as well as the general public."
Henry Alford, President and CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce on behalf of 95,000 Black-owned businesses represented by the NBCC
"It is our view that Comcast's long and distinguished record in promoting diversity—through its hiring and promotion practices, programming choices, and support for African American charities and community groups—has provided ample evidence of this company's good works and the positive impact it will have on diversity and equality at NBC Universal."
"In 2009, Comcast drove $84 million of its business to African American vendors. It is clear that Comcast operates as part of, and values, a diverse community and as such its growth creates a place where African American entrepreneurship, which is our organization's primary concern, can grow and thrive. It is in recognition of this that for the fifth consecutive year, DiversityBusiness.com named Comcast as one of "America's Top 50 Corporations for Multicultural Business Opportunities" due to their record of seeking out Black-owned businesses as suppliers."
"Comcast is also recognized throughout the country as a leader in diversity in its workplace. The company employs more than 22,000 African Americans, which make up nearly one-quarter of the business' total workforce."
Garry L. Maddox, CEO, A. Pomeranz & Co.
"Their support of Diversity is unmatched in this country and as the owner of a minority owned company doing business nationally, I can attest to it firsthand."
Mary Almendarez, 2nd Vice President, The League of United Latin American Citizens
"I have witnessed Comcast's extraordinary commitment to civil rights, equality and diversity. I believe Comcast will uphold the promises it makes about this new partnership, because it keeps its promises to me."
"Comcast also ensures that all children have access to today's technological advantages by providing complimentary broadband access to public schools. By connecting young Hispanic Americans to broadband Comcast helps to make them digital literate, which will not only expand their chancees for success in school but also prepare them for an increasingly competitive job market that nearly always demands online skills."
Rep. Calvin Smyre, President, National Black Caucus of State Legislators
Georgia House of Representatives
"We strongly believe that Comcast's commitment to promoting diversity in programming, as well as supporting the economic advancement of people of color, provides ample evidence that the new Comcast-NBC Universal will promote the important value of diversity, a critical element of the Commission's review..."
"At a time when there was a dearth of outlets for quality African American television programming, Comcast partnered with minority-owned programmers to launch TV One, which offers original, compelling entertainment, news and public affairs broadcasts aimed at a sophisticated audience. There remains a great deal more than can be done to offer communities of color additional media outlets addressing their views and experiences, but Comcast's commitment to offering programming that speaks to an African American audience is unsurpassed in the industry."
The National Conference of Hispanic Legislators
"Comcast has licensed more than 70 networks that serve Hispanic viewers and recently has begun to offer more than 50 cable networks on the majority of its cable systems - by far the largest offering provided by any video provider in the country. Being able to work with a company that understands the needs of Hispanic Americans has been a pleasure."
Senator Sharon Weston Broome
President, National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women (NOBEL Women)
Louisiana State Senate
"We believe that the joining of Comcast and NBC Universal will help fast-forward many of NOBEL Women's critical policy goals. In particular, it is our belief that the combination of Comcast and NBC Universal will produce a new entity that will assist in our members' efforts to bring broadband to their constituencies and encourage growth by creating exciting fresh platforms for dissemination of information in the 21st century."
"It is without question that Comcast stands as a leader in the world of corporate social responsibility and because of this leadership and continued support for policies endorsed by NOBEL Women we believe this important transaction merits timely approval."
Christine Lee, President, North Star Cable Construction
"North Star is both a WBE and MBE certified company and provides employment for many members of the community. Comcast has always been a valuable partner and has supported us in many ways throughout the years. I am confident that a combined Comcast and NBC will continue both companies' commitment to diversity and to the community."
Sophia Kim, Program Director, Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, Inc.
"I recognize Comcast as an outstanding corporate partner that respects diversity and cares about the youth of Boston. Implementing our mission often requires help from dedicated corporate partners like Comcast. Comcast invests in programs like ours that promote leadership and academic skills necessary for a successful transition to adulthood."
Marco Dominguez, President/CEO, IndyVision TV
"Our experience with Comcast has taught us that the company does so much more—when it comes to its role of promoting diverse programming or investing in locally relevant content...IndyVision TV is living proof."
Luis Torres-Bohl, President, Castalia Communications Corporation
"Comcast has been instrumental in the development of Hispanic television in the United States. We firmly believe that the proposed joint venture will produce even more opportunities for companies like ours and for multi-ethnic communities to receive better and richer services."
Vanessa R. Williams, Executive Director, National Conference of Black Mayors
"We strongly believe that Comcast's exemplary record in creating sustainable urban jobs, as well as the company's support for the economic advancement of people of color throughout our diverse communities, provides ample evidence that the new Comcast-NBC Universal will continue to promote diversity and urban economic expansion."
"Comcast is ranked among the "Most Admired Employers for Minority Professionals" by US Black Engineer and Women of Color magazines, among many others. Comcast is among a select group of companies that play a key role in revitalizing our nation's urban centers."
"Comcast's proven track record of supporting urban economic development makes the Comcast-NBCU joint venture a positive development for urban America."
Burke Berendes, Partner, Condista
"Our company supports the Comcast-NBC Universal Joint venture because we believe the new entity will continue Comcast's support for independent programming."
"Comcast made a significant investment in their network to create the space available for more channels and more products. They have always re-invested portions of that increased space in independent companies like our clients."
Grover Johnson, President, Tacoma Chapter of the A. Philip Randolph Institute
"Comcast has been an incredibly valuable partner to the Tacoma, Washington, Chapter of the A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI), and it has done a great deal to increase acceptance of diversity, and help us move towards equality in our region."
"Comcast has made great efforts to not only conduct its business with a priority on diversity, but to support organizations and media groups that fight for equality and bring us closer to a color blind society. APRI greatly appreciates and admires the emphasis on diversity that Comcast and CEO Brian Roberts have made. As a result, Comcast is a nationally recognized leader for diversity in the workplace and a supporter of diversity in the community."
"We would offer Comcast as an excellent example of a corporation making a difference and allow Comcast to proceed in merging with NBC Universal."
Archie Archuleta, President, Utah Coalition of La Raza
"The Utah Coalition of La Raza (UCLR) exists to provide a unified voice for the Hispanic Community of Utah. UCLR is primarily an advocacy and civil rights organization that provides education on issues such as economic development, immigration, and leadership development. Comcast has been a strong supporter of our programs, especially in the area of youth development."
"While Comcast has been a great community partner, it has also demonstrated its commitment to diversity in its day to day business. The National Council of La Raza and many other Hispanic organizations throughout the country have worked closely with Comcast as it seeks to advance diversity in the business community."