Comcast Corporation reports the following information from its Management Discussion and Analysis section of its \(200710-\mathrm{K}\)

a. The financial ratios to which Comcast refers are similar to those discussed in the section on credit ratings and the cost of debt. What effects might these ratios have on the degree of freedom that management has in running Comcast?

b. Violation of debt covenants can be a serious event that could trigger an "immediately due and payable" provision in the debt contract. What pressures might management face if the company" ratios are near covenant limits?

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Debt Covenants We and our cable subsidiaries that have provided guarantees are subject to the covenants and restrictions set forth in the indentures governing our public debt securities and in the credit agreements governing our bank credit facilities. We and the guarantors are in compliance with the covenants, and we believe that neither the covenants nor the restrictions in our indentures ar loan documents will limit our ability to operate our business or raise additional capital. Our credit facilities' covenants are tested on an ongoing basis. The only financial covenant in our $5.0 billion revolving credit facility and our amended and restated $7.0 billion revolving credit facility relates to leverage (ratio of debt to operating income before depreciation and amortization). As of December 31, 2007, we met our financial covenant in our $5 billion revolving credit facility by a sigificant margin. Our ability to comply with this financial covenant in the future does not depend on further debt reduction or on improved operating results.