NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] Tone Deaf! - More promised competition evaporates, as Verizon makes spectrum/marketing deal with cable giants
Tone Deaf! - More promised competition evaporates, as Verizon makes
spectrum/marketing deal with cable giants
http://j.mp/uCF9c1 (Washington Post)
"This part of the agreement is "a complete reordering of the
competitive universe as we know it today," said Bernstein Research
analyst Craig Moffett. It "amounts to a partnership between
formerly mortal enemies, not just outside of Verizon's FiOS
territories, but even within them." While consumers could
eventually see their cable television, Internet, home phone and
cellphone services on a single monthly bill, some antitrust
experts are worried about deal. They are especially concerned that
Verizon - in its push to dominate wireless services and its new
obligation to promote other cable companies - will lose interest
in FiOS altogether."
...
The companies said that they do not believe federal regulators can
review their marketing agreement. They noted that AT&T has a
similar cross-promotional deal with satellite company DirecTV.
But antitrust experts said that either Justice or the FCC could
expand its [spectrum] review and question how the marketing
partnership would effect consumer choice. "It's fair to say this
is going to get a hard and thorough review," said the person
familiar with the concerns of federal antitrust officials, who
spoke on condition of anonymity because the review process is not
publicly disclosed. "If not in the review, in an investigation."
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--Lauren--
Lauren Weinstein (lauren@vortex.com): http://www.vortex.com/lauren
Co-Founder: People For Internet Responsibility: http://www.pfir.org
Founder:
- Network Neutrality Squad: http://www.nnsquad.org
- Global Coalition for Transparent Internet Performance: http://www.gctip.org
- PRIVACY Forum: http://www.vortex.com
Member: ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenweinstein
Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 / Skype: vortex.com