AOL Time Warner get FCC Approval
  01/11/2001 12:00:00pm Albuquerque, Nm
  By Dustin D. Brand; Owner AMO

Today the Federal Communications Commission approved the AOL Time Warner Merger valued at $106 Billion   For nearly a year now America Online has sought to merge their company the world's largest ISP with Time Warner the world's largest media company. Today after over 36 FCC and FTC meetings on the subject, the FCC has approved the merger.
  Key issues raised about this merger are the size of the final AOL Time Warner Company, the market dominace of the 2 being one, Time Warner's Cable System, and AOL's Instant Messaging systems.

  One issue that was raised about Time Warner's Cable system had to do with AT&T. AT&T succeeded in acquiring MediaOne's Cable system back in 1998 for $5 Billion. MediaOne owned 25% of Time Warner Cable, and as part of AT&T's purchase of MediaOne, they had to sell back this 25% to remain under the required 33% total Cable market share in the US. AT&T and Microsoft together raised issues in front of the FCC less than a week ago citing along with many others that AOL should be required to open up their Instant Messaging system.

  The requirements for AOL Time Warner to merge are as follows:
   Open Access to their Cable System (allowing other Internet Service Providers to use the AOL Time Warner Cable system)
   Open Instant Messaging (AOL must show a willingness to open their instant messaging systems including AOL and ICQ to allow for competing instant messaging to interoperate)
   Ability for other ISP's to offer their services (part of the open Cable System AOL Time Warner must not restrict their customers to using only AOL Time Warner)

  So the bottom line is AOL Time Warner (the offical name of the new company) is approved with conditions. The merger has not yet closed, but you can expect this before February. AOL Time Warner is already showing compliance with the requirements, and have already started construction on their new World Headquarters right here in the United States.

  This merger is the largest merger to date ever valued at $106 Billion.