Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Resurrected Ma Bell Rebuffs Purcell

The reconstituted bride of Frankenstein that is the mega-conglomerate AT&T has declined Mayor Bill Purcell's offer to obtain a franchise to offer our County video services. Why? Because AT&T wants to own the whole state and not just Nashville. AT&T smells blood in the water:
Today, diminished federal regulation, AT&T's acquisition of BellSouth and its business and technology strategies are winning both more favorable reviews from investment analysts and rising pressure for earnings — further emboldening AT&T to attempt to shed as much state and local regulation as possible.
They are already busting out their britches and they have been lobbying the GenAss en masse for less public oversight of their private operations in Tennessee. Given the real possibility that a deregulated, emboldened AT&T means less competition in local markets, I'd like to know where the heck the conservative free marketeers are to fight Ma Bell II when we need them?

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