Democratic Congressional Caucus Chairman Support Univision/HBC Merger.

The Chairman and a senior member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus have written letters to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to express their support of the pending merger between Univision Communications Inc. and Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation.

Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Congressman Ciro D. Rodriguez (D-Texas), wrote: “While I am always cautious of any media concentration, I am convinced that the proposed merger would enhance, not detract from, opportunities to serve Spanish-speaking, Hispanic and general audiences. The increased stature of Hispanic media as a result of this merger will allow Hispanic media to compete more effectively for advertisers who do not yet serve this important and fast-growing audience.”

Senior Congressional Hispanic Caucus member and seven-term Congressman José E. Serrano (D-New York) wrote: “Those who call upon the FCC to proclaim Hispanics a ‘separate market’ and to apply a different set of rules to broadcasters that choose to format their stations to serve this audience espouse a poor and morally indefensible policy. Hispanic viewers and listeners deserve better. Those who would deny Univision and HBC this opportunity to improve their service to the public and to compete effectively with English-language media conglomerates do so at the expense of all Hispanics.”

This support follows recent letters written by respected Democratic Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, among others, expressing concern that this merger is being treated differently from other mergers that the FCC has reviewed in the past, and urging the Commission to rule promptly for the interest of all parties. Copies of the Rodriguez and Serrano letters follow.