Sen Inouye Presses Martin on Recusal Issue

SEN INOUYE PRESSES MARTIN ON RECUSAL ISSUE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Incoming Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) says he, too, is not happy with FCC Chairman Kevin Martin's exploration of freeing up Commissioner Robert McDowell to vote on the AT&T/BellSouth merger. In a letter to Chairman Martin, Sen Inouye argues that an unrecusal of McDowell to break a two-two deadlock on the merger would "short-circuit the negotiation of meaningful conditions that are necessary to preserve competition and to prevent unfair discrimination." He says he is disturbed that the deadlock is seen as an impasse, pointing out that the Adelphia merger review topped 400 days -- the present one is in day 230, according to the FCC. "It is puzzling," he says, "that the Commission would conclude so quickly that further negotiations regarding conditions for this merger -- which would represent the largest telecommunications merger in our nation's history -- are at an impasse."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6397892.html?display=Breaking+News

* Martin Gets Support McDowell Recusal Query
The current chairmen of the House Energy & Commerce Committee and its Telecommunications Subcommittee have weighed in with support for FCC's Chairman Kevin Martin's exploration of whether Commissioner Robert McDowell can vote on the AT&T/Bell South merger. In a letter to Martin on Wednesday, Joe Barton (R-Tex.) and Fred Upton (R-Mich.), chairmen of the Commerce Committee and Telecommunications Subcommittee said that the commission has had "ample time" to review and rule on the merger saying "mergers and acquisitions should not be held hostage in order to advance a particular policy agenda."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6397838?display=Breaking+News

* AT&T-BellSouth vote raises new concerns
http://news.com.com/ATT-BellSouth+vote+raises+new+concerns/2100-1036_3-6141441.html?tag=html.alert