Martin Says Talks Continue on AT&T-BellSouth Merger
Talks continue on the AT&T-BellSouth merger, but chances are slim for a 2006 approval, with commissioners leaving for the holidays, Chmn. Martin said Wed. “I still think it could get done early next year,” Martin said, acknowledging he has no magic answers for concluding the talks successfully.
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“The commissioners have tried very hard and there was already something on the agenda several times,” he said: “I think they'll continue to work through it. If you've got some exciting idea for me, that would be great. But I'm not sure that I have any off the top of my head.”
Martin is ready for questions from the new Democrat-run Congress, including a stream of “Dingellgrams” from House Commerce Committee-designate Chmn. Dingell (D-Mich.), he said. “It may very well be that I get a lot more questions,” Martin said: “In the past I've gotten a lot of questions from Republican members both in the House and Senate as well. It may be that I get even more questions, and if we do we'll spend the time necessary to respond to them.”
The FCC is close to approval of a notice of inquiry on net neutrality, Martin said: “I think it’s still on circulation. We already had a full agenda for this meeting.” The Commission should be done dealing with pending wireless matters early in 2007, Martin said. These include rules for 700 MHz auction and wireless industry petitions on whose jurisdiction early termination fees fall under, the FCC’s or the states’.