Consumer Groups Object To Merger

Fri., Oct. 30, 1998

From Staff

AT&T’s planned takeover of cable giant Tele-Communications Inc. drew protests Thursday from consumer groups and others that the deal would dampen competition for Internet services.

The Consumers Union, the Consumer Federation of America and MCI WorldCom said the Federal Communications Commission must require the companies to take steps to protect competition in this and other areas as a condition of winning approval for their merger.

Specifically, they want the FCC to ensure that Internet service providers and other communications companies have nondiscriminatory access to TCI’s high-speed cable TV lines, which reach about one-third of the nation’s homes. They also want to make sure that consumers will have choices among Internet providers and won’t be forced to have to use the one TCI has a financial stake in - At Home.

The FCC is reviewing the merger to determine whether it serves the public interest, a broad standard that includes whether the merger would be good for consumers and for competition.

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Consumer Groups Object To Merger

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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