Home/red-rock-eater/[RRE]SBC/Ameritech Merger

[RRE]SBC/Ameritech Mergerwriting

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1999-07-13 · 3 min read · Edit on Pyrite

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[RRE]SBC/Ameritech Merger

``` [This campaign is funded by the companies' competitors, but SBC really is bad news. You may recall their very unpleasant telemarketing campaign to pressure customers into buying services they couldn't understand or afford.]

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Date: Thu, 8 Jul 1999 21:07:11 -0600 (MDT) From: Audrie Krause Subject: ACTION ALERT: Contact FCC re: SBC/Ameritech merger Sender: phones-owner@consumerchoice.org

ACTION ALERT

FCC Invites Comments on the Proposed Conditions to the SBC/Ameritech Merger

PLEASE CIRCULATE WIDELY TO APPROPRIATE LISTS AND NEWS GROUPS

Comments must be filed by July 13, 1999; reply comments by July 20, 1999 (Disregard this notice after July 20, 1999)

Three years after Congress deregulated the telecommunications industry, local phone service is still a monopoly. And the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is on the verge of making it an even bigger monopoly.

The FCC is asking for comments on proposed conditions for the SBC/Ameritech merger. The conditions were proposed by SBC and Ameritech in response to concerns raised earlier this year by FCC Chairman William Kennard. See: . The FCC is recommending that the merger be approved subject to these conditions. This is very likely the LAST CHANCE consumers will have to express concerns about the merger before the FCC issues a final decision.

The proposed conditions do not provide the concrete assurances that consumers need regarding local phone competition. News reports have characterized the proposed conditions for competitive local service as "fuzzy," since the details are vague regarding SBC's commitment to expand outside its existing service territory.

SBC's track record with consumers is the worst in the nation. Without specific, concrete proposals and timelines, the vague proposed conditions will remain just that. Local phone competition will continue to be supressed and consumers will be stuck with an even larger and more powerful monopoly.

Address email comments to: ecfs@fcc.gov . The Sample Comment included below contains the minimum required information in the required format. The Docket Number is correct and must be included when you submit your comments. Substitute your own name and address, and write your own comment below the field (or copy and paste the sample comment).

A summary of the proposed conditions is available on the FCC's web site at .

SAMPLE: THIS IS HOW YOUR COMMENT SHOULD BE FORMATTED

98-141 Jane M. Doe 902 Snyder Lane Wichita KS 29988

Dear Commissioners,

The proposed conditions for the SBC/Ameritech merger are too vague to ensure that consumers will finally see the benefits of local phone competition. The FCC must do more to ensure that local competition develops before approving the merger.

END OF SAMPLE COMMENT

A Public Notice with complete information on how to file email comments is at . You can request the instructions and a sample by sending an email message to: ecfs@fcc.gov . Leave the subject line blank and in the message field type: get form . Instructions and a sample form will be sent in a reply.

Comments are due by Tuesday, July 13, 1999. Oppositions or responses to these comments are due by Tuesday, July 20, 1999. The Docket Number is 98-141.

See for more background on this issue.

THIS ACTION ALERT IS IN EFFECT THROUGH JULY 20, 1999. PLEASE DISREGARD THIS MESSAGE AFTER JULY 20, 1999.

For more information, contact:

Audrie Krause Email: audrie@consumerchoice.org http://www.consumerchoice.org

To subscribe to this Action Alert list: Send a message to: majordomo@consumerchoice.org (no subject needed) In the message body type: subscribe phones

To remove your address from this list: Send a message to: majordomo@consumerchoice.org (no subject needed) In the message body type: unsubscribe phones

To subscribe or unsubscribe from an address other than the address you are presently using, contact the list owner at: phones-owner@consumerchoice.org ```

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