NEW FCC COMMISSIONER SEEN AS 慦ILD CARD?IN AT&T-BELLSOUTH MERGER APPROVAL

摘要

Conventional wisdom on the AT&T-BellSouth merger is that it faces a smooth regulatory path, especially in light of recent mega-mergers, notably SBC抯 takeover of AT&T late last year. But questions remain about how the arrival of Comr. Robert McDowell could affect FCC handling of the merger. AT&T抯 takeover of BellSouth would be the first between 2 Bells since 1999, when SBC acquired Ameritech. The deal would create a firm active in 22 states, with 300,000-plus employees, 70.9 million landlines and 54.1 million wireless subscribers. With Cingular under one parent, a Bell for the first time could offer a true quadruple play of wireline, broadband, video and wireless under one brand. In a conference call Mon., top officials at AT&T and BellSouth said they don抰 expect regulators to set substantial conditions on the merger. But other officials said the regulatory playing field has changed since last year.nnAt the FCC, the main question is whether the arrival of McDowell, perhaps within weeks, will make a notable difference in how the FCC approaches the merger. McDowell, who for years has represented competitive carriers, is steeped in the competition issues the merger raises. That could give him a crucial role in developing the order, in what likely will be among his early major votes at the FCC. The deal has critics. 揟here are no benefits in this merger for consumers or the U.S. economy,?said CompTel Pres. Earl Comstock, calling it a 搑esurrection of the old Bell monopoly.?But analysts and regulatory sources see scant likelihood of the merger facing a tough fight, at least in Washington. 揃ased on what the FCC has said and done I don抰 see any [regulatory] problems,?said analyst Jeff Kagan.