Comcast, the nation's largest cable and Internet company, wants to take over NBC Universal, one of the world's biggest producers of TV shows and motion pictures. This merger is going to hit Chicago hard. Comcast is already the city's dominant cable and Internet provider, and now it wants to acquire NBC 5 Chicago and Telemundo Chicago.

That’s too much media in the hands of just one company.

The Federal Communications Commission has the power to stop this merger, and now the agency is coming to Chicago to hear from the public.

WHAT: Public Hearing on the Comcast/NBC Merger
WHEN: Tuesday, July 13, 2010, 1:00 - 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: Northwestern University Law School, Thorne Auditorium, 375 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611

There will be an open mic from 6 p.m. to 8.p.m. for members of the public to make their voices heard. You have to sign up to speak - starting at 5 p.m. - show up early to reserve your spot!

Sign up for the event on Facebook.

The FCC has released it's official agenda for the event. Download it here.

Agenda and Panelists (Central Standard Time)

1:00 p.m. - Introduction and Opening Remarks, Commissioner Michael Copps, Federal Communications Commission

1:15 p.m. - Panel 1: Online Video Distribution Considerations

• John Flynn, Senior Counsel to the Chairman for Transactions, FCC (Moderator)
• Jeffrey Blum, Deputy General Counsel, DISH Network
• Susan Crawford, Professor, Cardozo Law School, and Visiting Research Collaborator, Princeton University
• Markham C. Erickson, Partner, Holch & Erickson LLP, and Executive Director, NetCoalition
• Travis Parsons, Senior Director, Business Development, Sezmi
• Josh Silver, President and CEO, Free Press
• Scott Wallsten, Vice President for Research and Senior Fellow, Technology Policy Institute
• Susan Whiting, Vice Chair, The Nielsen Company

3:00 p.m. - Break

3:15 p.m. - Panel 2: Multichannel Video Programming Distributor Considerations

• William Lake, Chief, Media Bureau, FCC (Moderator)
• Colleen Abdoulah, President and CEO, WOW! Internet, Cable and Phone
• Tyrone Brown, President, Media Access Project
• Brian Lawlor, President-Chairman, NBC Television Affiliates and Senior Vice President of Television, The E.W. Scripps Company
• William Rogerson, Professor of Economics, Northwestern University
• Ken Solomon, Chairman & CEO, The Tennis Channel
• James Speta, Professor, Northwestern University School of Law

5:00 p.m. - Break

6:00 p.m. - Public Comments (Sign up begins at 5 p.m. so be sure to show up early)

8:00 p.m. - Adjournment

If approved, this disastrous deal would mean higher prices for consumers; it would stifle competition on cable and across the Internet; and it would make it even harder for independent and diverse writers, producers and artists to find an audience on TV and online.

It would mean fewer voices and choices for Chicago.

Don't miss your chance to speak out against this merger. Attend the hearing on July 13.

And please share info of this event on Twitter and Facebook.