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The International Brotherhood of Electical Workers has come out strongly against a proposed plan that would allow Comcast, Verizon and other companies to "combine" services and to no longer compete against each other. The deal would eliminate competition in the areas where the plan goes into effect and would raise prices for consumers and limit services.

Verizon Wireless and the nation's major cable companies are facing tough scrutiny and growing criticism over plans to cross-market products. The plan would allow the wireless carrier to offer its customers bundles that include cable service from Comcast and other companies, while allowing cable companies to offer Verizon plans to their customers. The agreement would likely put an end to Verizon's popular FIOS fiber-optic cable service that keeps thousands of workers on the job. Critics say the deal would stifle competition and ultimately drive up prices for both cable and phone service.