IS FTC SOFTENING STANCE
ON AOLTW?
Certain staff members at the Federal Trade Commission said that new concessions offered by AOL and TW may represent the most favorable terms that the government can win, The Washington Post reported, citing unnamed sources familiar with the case. The companies have argued that the FTC could actually end up with a less favorable outcome by suing to block AOL's $109 billion acquisition of TW.
AOL's plan to let EarthLink sell Internet services using TW cable television lines has apparently served to alleviate some antitrust concerns (hitsdailydouble.com, 11/20).
The FTC continues to review the terms of AOL's proposed agreement with EarthLink. FTC staff members are now asking outside groups whether the agency should also require TW to provide its content on a "non-discriminatory" basis, according to The Washington Post.
