文章基本信息

标题：Pointing Fingers in the Beltway - Company Business and Marketing - Brief Article
作者：K.C. Neel
期刊名称：Cable World
印刷版ISSN：1931-7697
出版年度：2000
卷号：Feb 21, 2000
出版社：Access Intelligence

Pointing Fingers in the Beltway - Company Business and Marketing - Brief Article

K.C. Neel

Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-La.) last week accused the FCC of blackmailing, greenmailing and shaking down merger applicants into accepting onerous conditions. In return, FCC commissioner William Kennard adamantly denied Tauzin's accusations calling them "unfair, irresponsible and unworthy of a public official."

Conversely, consumer groups are blasting the FCC's Cable Bureau for being biased toward AT&T Corp.'s acquisition of MediaOne Group. The groups maintain the Cable Bureau is ignoring consumer complaints about the merger and have amassed some 46 violations of FCC reporting rules.

FCC Cable Bureau chief Deborah Lathen said the charges are being reviewed and will be addressed either before or as part of the final ruling in the merger request. She also noted that the Cable Bureau has asked for additional public comment on AT&T's surprise announcement that it wants 18 months to comply with any divestiture orders as part of the merger.