The group asked the Federal Trade Commission, the government's consumer protection agency, to investigate links between AT&T and Time Warner and determine whether the two must remove overlapping interests in cable distribution and programming, Reuters reports.
The request was brought to the forefront now as AOL and Time Warner's proposed $124 billion merger is also being scrutinized by the FCC and FTC.
AT&T, the nation's No. 1 cable and long-distance telephone company, acquired the stake in TWE, a unit of Time Warner, with its $50 billion purchase of MediaOne, but one of the conditions of the merger approval was to divest of certain cable assets.
"We think the FTC should require AT&T to sell its interest in Time Warner, or the FTC should require Time Warner to restructure itself so that it and AT&T do not jointly own cable properties as a prerequisite of its merger with America Online," a Consumers Union spokesman said.
VMAs BEAMING BACK
TO THE BIG APPLE Getting back to where they once belonged (4/24a)
THE COUNT: ALL THE DESERT'S A STAGE
Jon Wayne is rolling over in his grave. (4/24a)
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THE NEW UMG
Gosh, we hope there are more press releases.
TIKTOK BANNED!
Unless the Senate manages to make this whole thing go away, that is.
THE NEW HUGE COUNTRY ACT
No, not that one.
TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN PLAYLIST
Now 100% unlicensed!
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