There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Comcast has donated over $1.8 billion to local charities and now that its merger with NBC is on the table, it’s time to call in the chits. Charities that received contributions from Comcast are pouring out their epistolary support for the merger, and they appear to be less than spontaneous.

The Wrap:

When asked how [the president of a festival] learned that Comcast could use her support, she answered, “It came to my attention.”

[The executive director of a theater program] was asked to supply a letter in an e-mail from a Sacramento television station. “I was requested,” he said.

It’s better to give than to receive, but what’s even better is to give and receive.

For Comcast-NBCU, Charity Begins at the FCC [TheWrap] (Thanks to Klay!)

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