Citizen Groups Cry Foul Over FCC Vote

CITIZEN GROUPS CRY FOUL OVER FCC VOTE
[SOURCE: internetnews.com, AUTHOR: Roy Mark]
The Consumers Union, Consumer Federation of America, Free Press, Public Knowledge and U.S. PIRG wrote the Federal Communications Commission Tuesday opposing Commissioner Robert McDowell's participation in the AT&T-BellSouth merger vote expected this month. The groups said in their letter that FCC Chairman Kevin Martin's attempt to reverse McDowell's recusal "is a violation of the public trust, sacrificing a valid process of good-faith negotiations among participating commissioners for political expediency and the convenience of the merging parties." The groups said they wrote the letter because the FCC asked AT&T and BellSouth for their views on McDowell's participation but did not ask for public input. Both AT&T and BellSouth said they are not opposed to McDowell's participation. "Given that the combined entity will control half of the business and residential telephone lines in the nation, it is the public, not AT&T or BellSouth, which has the greatest stake in the merger's rejection or approval, with or without conditions," the letter states. "Regardless of how Commissioner McDowell votes on the merger, the public interest is jeopardized."
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