* Also: IT trade group fights DSL deregulation; Sprint/Nextel merger nearly done
BellSouth has filed two lawsuits against AT&T alleging nonpayment of access charges for long-distance calls and breach of contract for prepaid services. BellSouth filed its suits in June but they came to light last week in an AT&T 10-Q filing with the SEC. BellSouth is claiming that AT&T misrepresented the jurisdiction of certain calls that were being delivered to its network over the past five years. The RBOC believes AT&T did this intentionally to avoid the payment of access charges. BellSouth is seeking unspecified damages. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/080505-bellsouth-att.html
BellSouth has filed two lawsuits against AT&T alleging nonpayment of access charges for long-distance calls and breach of contract for prepaid services. BellSouth filed its suits in June but they came to light last week in an AT&T 10-Q filing with the SEC. BellSouth is claiming that AT&T misrepresented the jurisdiction of certain calls that were being delivered to its network over the past five years. The RBOC believes AT&T did this intentionally to avoid the payment of access charges. BellSouth is seeking unspecified damages.
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/080505-bellsouth-att.html
A consumer group and an IT trade group are asking the FCC to reconsider an anticipated move toward deregulating DSL broadband service. Late last month, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said he would push the commission to ease DSL line-sharing requirements after the Supreme Court in June upheld an earlier FCC decision to exempt cable TV providers from giving ISPs access to cable modem lines. But an FCC decision to deregulate DSL could drive many ISPs out of business, said the Information Technology Association of America, a trade group representing several Internet firms.
http://www.networkworld.com/net.worker/news/2005/080405-dsl.html
The $35 billion merger between Sprint and Nextel is virtually a done deal now that the FCC and the Department of Justice have approved the transaction. Both groups gave the union, which will solidify Sprint’s position as the third largest wireless service provider in the U.S., their blessing. Sprint Nextel will serve about 45 million customers behind only Cingular Wireless with about 50 million users and Verizon Wireless with 45.5 million subscribers. T-Mobile is now a distant fourth with 18.2 million wireless customers.
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/080405-sprint-nextel.html
