President Taps Comcast's Roberts For Competitiveness Council

Council is chaired by GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/23/2011 12:52:23 PM

President Barack Obama said Wednesday that Comcast Chairman Brian Roberts is among the executives he is appointing to the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. Since the council is chaired by Jeffrey Immelt, CEO of GE, that means that both of NBCU's parents (Comcast owns 51%, GE 49%), will have meetings to attend.

"I am proud that such experienced and committed individuals have agreed to serve the American people in these important roles. I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead," the President said of the council members in a statement. Roberts blogged about the appointment Wednesday.

Also on the list to join the council is former Time Warner Chairman Richard Parsons, who was on then President-elect Obama's economic advisory board back in 2008. The first meeting of the new council will be tomorow (Feb. 24) at the White House.

The President in the State of the Union said the country needed to out-innovate its competitors, including boosting broadband deployment and adoption as part of that effort. Comcast is the nation's largest Internet service provider.

The council will focus on "finding new ways to promote growth through investments in American business to equip workers with the skills they need to succeed, encourage the private sector to hire and invest in American competitiveness, and attract top jobs and businesses right here in the United States."

Republicans and some ISPs argue that one way to promote investment and jobs is not to impose network neutrality rules, as the FCC did in December, with the backing of the administration. Both the FCC and the administration have said network neutrality rules will provide regulatory certainty and boost innovation and investment.