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from: Broadband Reports

Can AT&T Just Ignore New Concessions?
Neutrality advocates cheer, ignore fine print...

Posted on 2007-01-02 16:25:46 by Karl

While AT&T did offer some additional concessions to squeeze through the AT&T BellSouth merger, Kevin Webach (via Techdirt) points out that the post-merger statements by Republican commissioners hint that they may not require the company to actually adhere to them. According to the statement, Tate and Martin believe that "while the Democrat Commissioners may have extracted concessions from AT&T, they in no way bind future Commission action. Thus, to the extent that AT&T has, as a business matter, determined to take certain actions, they are allowed to do so."

from: ISP Planet

DSL Prime: AT&T's Net Neutrality Offer is Just Hot Air

AT&T promises to deliver bits without traffic shaping, but the agreement excludes the parts of the network it can control.

by Dave Burstein
of DSL Prime and Future of TV
[January 4, 2007]

"I call them the black ninjas. They work by night and are very, very good."

from: ComputerWorld

FCC boss: We can throw away the AT&T net neutrality agreement

By Preston Gralla on Thu, 01/04/2007 - 2:34pm

The groundbreaking AT&T pledge to agree to net neutrality provisions in return for being allowed to buy out BellSouth carries absolutely no weight with FCC honcho Kevin Martin. In fact, Martin has said that the FCC "will oppose such policies going forward."

a technology consultant firm predicting business as usual

from: Gartner

AT&T Closes BellSouth Deal by Making Only Small Concessions

4 January 2007

Jay E. Pultz Kathie Hackler Phillip Redman

AT&T made several minor concessions to win FCC approval of this deal. Now larger and with a wholly owned wireless capability, AT&T is strengthened as a global telecom leader. But enterprises shouldn't overlook alternatives.

From Morris News Service, November 26, 2006

Telephone Giant Looks to Move in on Cable Service

By Vicky Eckenrode

Competition could help lower bills and improve service for television owners across the state, said officials from BellSouth, which wants to launch its own video service in Georgia.

But before the telecommunications company takes on cable providers, it wants state lawmakers to overhaul how local contracts are handled on the local level.

from: Nashville City Paper

Statewide franchise would entice BellSouth into cable market

By Blake Farmer, News Correspondent
November 27, 2006

As cable companies like Comcast Corp. enter the burgeoning broadband phone market, offering bundled services with cable television and high-speed Internet, Atlanta-based BellSouth Telecommunications is hunting for a slice of Tennessee’s video pie.

from: Austin American Statesman

AT&T eager to take on cable providers
By SCOTT LEITH
Cox News Service
Wednesday, November 22, 2006

ATLANTA — It's no secret that BellSouth — like the company that plans to buy it, AT&T — wants to go head-to-head in the TV business with cable providers such as Comcast.

from: ajc.com

AT&T'S ACQUISITION OF BELLSOUTH
Video a vital battleground

By SCOTT LEITH
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 11/22/06

It's no secret that BellSouth — like the company that plans to buy it, AT&T — wants to go head-to-head in the TV business with cable providers such as Comcast.

for more on this merger, see the Free Press page and send a letter through their campaign.

from: Broadband Reports

FCC Aims to Approve AT&T-BellSouth Merger
With absolutely no conditions...

from: CNET

No price cuts for Verizon, BellSouth DSL customers

By Marguerite Reardon
Tue Aug 22

Verizon Communications' and BellSouth's DSL customers won't see a reduction in their broadband bills, even though a special fee that had been tacked on to bills to pay for a federal program has been eliminated.