Conditions proposed by AT&T and BellSouth in a bid for FCC merger approval got a mixed review Mon., now that parties have had time to study the late-filed FCC public notice (CD Oct 16 p1). The agency late Fri. decided not to vote on the merger so public comment could be solicited on the proposed conditions. The FCC called for comments by Oct. 24 on an AT&T list of proposed conditions that was submitted as an ex parte filing.
Conditions proposed by AT&T and BellSouth in a bid for FCC merger approval got a mixed review Mon., now that parties have had time to study the late-filed FCC public notice (WID Oct 16 p5). The agency late Fri. decided not to vote on the merger so public comment could be solicited on the proposed conditions. The FCC called for comments by Oct. 24 on an AT&T list of proposed conditions that was submitted as an ex parte filing.
FCC Chmn. Martin decided Fri. not to press for a vote on the AT&T-BellSouth merger so public comment could be solicited on proposed conditions emerging from negotiations among the commissioners. Martin said the vote could occur at the Nov. 3 open meeting if not sooner by circulation. The proposed conditions were offered late in the week by AT&T in response to FCC requests for language addressing the Democratic commissioners’ concerns.
If the FCC favors approval of the AT&T-BellSouth merger, it at least should set conditions aimed at guarding consumers, public interest groups said Wed. at a news conference listing their reasons for opposing the merger. Those reasons vary with each body’s membership.
If the FCC favors approval of the AT&T-BellSouth merger, it at least should set conditions aimed at guarding consumers, public interest groups said Wed. at a news conference listing their reasons for opposing the merger. Those reasons vary with each body’s membership. The merger “can’t go forward while allegations are pending” about AT&T giving the National Security Agency access to customer records, Barry Steinhardt, dir.-ACLU’s Technology & Liberty Program, said. The FCC must investigate AT&T’s alleged ties to the NSA before approving the merger, he said. Mark Cooper, Consumer Federation of America research dir., said he was worried about “the anticompetitive and anticonsumer impact of the merger” and called for conditions requiring naked DSL, net neutrality and special access that he said would affect consumers’ prices and choices. Answering a question, he said some of those conditions may be imposed, because the agency made similar requirements of previous mergers. The merging partners will have a “tremendous amount of spectrum,” including “warehoused” spectrum new competitors could use, Media Access Project Pres. Andrew Schwartzman said. A proposed order FCC Chmn. Martin is circulating to fellow commissioners calls for approving the merger but doesn’t specify any conditions. Sources at the agency said conditions may be added as a result of expected negotiations between Martin and other commissioners. “There are always those who'll try to use these proceedings to peddle their personal bugaboos,” an AT&T spokesman said: “We're confident the FCC and DoJ recognize the significant public interest and consumer benefits of our merger.”
A ruling in the Fox v. FCC indecency case could come early next year, after an order Thurs. by the 2nd U.S. Appeals Court, N.Y., set an expedited schedule to file documents, said lawyers involved. The FCC got a 60-day stay, as expected (CD Aug 30 p3). When the stay ends Nov. 6, both sides will have just over a month to file all prehearing documents.
The FCC Fri. sent a letter to Verizon asking why it hit customers with a new DSL fee just as a federal fee of about the same amount lapsed. However, the agency decided not to question BellSouth, which said Fri. afternoon it was killing plans for such a fee. FCC Martin reportedly was upset by the companies plans for replacement fees. “We generally prefer regulation be done by the marketplace but we will act to insure consumers’ interests are protected,” an FCC official said.
The FCC Fri. sent a letter to Verizon asking why it hit customers with a new DSL fee just as a federal fee of about the same amount lapsed. However, the agency decided not to question BellSouth, which said Fri. afternoon it was killing plans for such a fee. FCC Martin reportedly was upset by the companies plans for replacement fees. “We generally prefer regulation be done by the marketplace but we will act to insure consumers’ interests are protected,” an FCC official said.
FCC Chmn. Martin faces a challenge getting a unanimous vote on a digital radio order (CD July 31 p9) because of 8th floor discord over public interest rules, said a Commission source. A 3-2 vote, Comrs. Adelstein and Copps dissenting, is possible if the order isn’t revised to obligate broadcasters to take steps such as reporting how much locally produced content they carry, we're told. Martin and the Democrats still could come to terms. A final tally hovering late yesterday (Thurs.) was postponed, said a source. Instead, the 2 sides will negotiate, we're told. An FCC spokesman declined to comment. Activists want radio stations to have to tell the FCC which programs they carry on multicast signals, said Georgetown U. Law Prof. Angela Campbell: “Because it is nascent, you need to know how it’s developing, what are broadcasters using it for, how are they serving the public.” The NAB hopes to see digital radio rules adopted quickly, a spokesman said: “It makes no sense to saddle this emerging technology with program mandates that could stifle consumer choice and format diversity.” A split FCC vote could signal agency Republicans’ lack of enthusiasm for public interest rules, said Media Access Project Pres. Andrew Schwartzman: Requiring a payback to the public in the form of public service does not seem to be a high priority for the Commission majority.” - JM
FCC Chmn. Martin faces a challenge getting a unanimous vote on a digital radio order (CED July 31 p4) because of 8th floor discord over public interest rules, said a Commission source. A 3-2 vote, Comrs. Adelstein and Copps dissenting, is possible if the order isn’t revised to obligate broadcasters to take steps such as reporting how much locally produced content they carry, we're told. An FCC spokesman declined to comment. Activists want radio stations to have to tell the FCC which programs they carry on multicast signals, said Georgetown U. Law Prof. Angela Campbell: “Because it is nascent, you need to know how it’s developing, what are broadcasters using it for, how are they serving the public.” The NAB hopes to see digital radio rules adopted quickly, a spokesman said: “It makes no sense to saddle this emerging technology with program mandates that could stifle consumer choice and format diversity.” A split FCC vote could signal agency Republicans’ lack of enthusiasm for public interest rules, said Media Access Project Pres. Andrew Schwartzman: “Requiring a payback to the public in the form of public service does not seem to be a high priority for the Commission majority.”