Aol, Time Warner Close To Merger Ok

After months of tough negotiations, federal antitrust regulators may be within days of approving the merger of America Online, the world’s largest Internet company, and Time Warner, the nation’s largest media and entertainment conglomerate.

“It certainly would appear they are moving on a path that would have something resolved this week or next,” said Andrew J. Schwartzman, president of the Media Access Project, a nonprofit group arguing in favor of regulatory limits on the merger.

Schwartzman, along with other consumer advocates, predicts that the Federal Trade Commission will approve the merger, but with restrictions heavy enough to prevent AOL and Time Warner from developing a monopolistic hold on Internet access.

Consumer groups want the two companies to sign a legally binding consent decree agreeing to let many Internet service providers - not just AOL - use Time Warner cable wires to reach customers.