While not surprising given they, well, said they would, the FCC today approved the Comcast/NBC merger with a 4-1 vote. The press release highlights the conditions that were applied, including requirements for fair distribution of content to competitors (online or traditional TV), a requirement that they continue to provide standalone broadband "at reasonable prices and of sufficient bandwidth" (rumored to be defined as $50 and 6 Mbps for 3 years) and requirements the new company can't "exercise corporate control over or unreasonably withhold programming from Hulu."

Comcast also agreed to expected voluntary conditions, including the delivery of $10 broadband to 2.5 million low income households. The company also agreed to expand their footprint to 400,000 additional homes, provide broadband Internet access service in six additional rural communities (both things probably already in Comcast's plans), and provide free video and high-speed Internet service to 600 new anchor institutions, such as schools and libraries, in underserved, low-income areas.

In a statement FCC boss Julius Genachowski insisted that "strong and fair merger conditions" (most of which expire after 7 years) ensure that the merger will serve the public interest. The lone dissenting voice was Michael Copps, who in a  statement proclaimed the newly forged company would be too powerful: