INTERNET
Altavista Ends Free Net Access For A Million Users (SJM)
INTERNATIONAL
China Telecom Prepares IPO Plans To Get Head Start on Competition
(WSJ)
Europeans Free Phone Market for Local and Internet Service (NYT)
MERGERS
Shareholders Back Vivendi Merger Plan (WP)
U.S. Approval Near, Case Says (WP)
PRIVACY
Wireless-World Privacy Pitted Against Free Speech (USA)
INTERNET
INTERNATIONAL
EUROPEANS FREE PHONE MARKET FOR LOCAL AND INTERNET SERVICE
Issue: Internet/International
European industry ministers approved a regulation today intended to create
competition among local telephone networks. The move is intended to pave the
way for cheaper, quicker Internet access for homes and businesses in
European Union countries. This is "a historic decision," said Erkki
Liikanen, commissioner for enterprise and the information society. The final
mile of phone lines to homes and offices is the last remaining segment of
the European telecommunications industry to be opened to competition. Simon
Hampton, public affairs director at AOL Europe, said that the new
regulations will mainly affect businesses and will not revolutionize the
residential market. Per Haugaard, spokesman for the European Commission,
insists that the new regulation will benefit home users. "The regulation
will bring down local phone charges, which we think will stimulate dial-up
to the Internet." Only about 30 percent of households in European Union
nations are now connected to the Internet.
[SOURCE: New York Times (C4), AUTHOR: Paul Meller]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/06/technology/06PHON.html)
(requires registration)
MERGERS
SHAREHOLDERS BACK VIVENDI MERGER PLAN
Issue: Mergers
Shareholders of both companies yesterday approved merger plans of French
water utility Vivendi and Canadian liquor conglomerate Seagram. Vivendi has
branched into media and telecommunication services, while Seagram owns the
Universal music and film studios. The merger of the two companies would
create a media powerhouse capable of rivaling a combined America Online and
Time Warner. Behind the merger is a plan to transmit Universal content over
European television, telephone and computer lines. "Who would have thought
we would leapfrog giants like Disney and Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.?"
Jean-Marie Messier, Vivendi chairman asked an estimated 7,000 guests who
showed up for the announcement of shareholder approval. "Vivendi Universal
will show that you can be a French group and a global company."
[SOURCE: Washington Post (E03), AUTHOR: William Drzdiak]
(http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30208-2000Dec5.html)
U.S. APPROVAL NEAR, CASE SAYS
Issue: Mergers
AOL CEO Steve Case said he expects the company to soon win FTC approval of
its takeover of Time Warner. "I'm here to tell you we're in the home
stretch," Case said in a speech before investors, analysts and the media at
the UBS Warburg Media Conference in New York. Case said he expects the deal
to close by early January, and that he expects the merger to be complete
before the Jan. 20 presidential inauguration. Case also indicated that after
the FTC acts, he expects to move "expeditiously" with the FCC, the other
U.S. regulatory agency that is reviewing the media merger. The FCC has said
that it would not act on the merger until after the FTC had finished with
its review.
[SOURCE: Washington Post (E01), AUTHOR Alec Klein]
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28710-2000Dec5.html)
PRIVACY
WIRELESS-WORLD PRIVACY PITTED AGAINST FREE SPEECH
Issue: Privacy
A divided Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday over whether the media can
be sued for broadcasting private conversations that someone else illegally
intercepted. The case arises from an illegal tape made of a cellular phone
call between two Pennsylvania teachers' union officials during contract
negotiations with a school board. In the dispute, the anonymously made tape
was passed on to a local talk-show host, Frederick Vopper, who aired it. The
union officials sued Vopper under a civil liability provision of federal law
prohibiting anyone from disclosing the contents of a communication known to
be illegally intercepted. A federal appeals court, however, had rejected the
case, saying the law violates the First Amendment when used against those
who had no role in the interception. News organizations are closely
following the case, which could have broad ramifications for journalists.
[SOURCE: USAToday (12A), AUTHOR: Joan Biskupic]
(http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20001206/2891966s.htm)
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