Pennsylvannia Suddenly Not Sure Why It Approved Verizon-MCI Merger

from the whoooops dept

Only a year and a half or so after Verizon was given the okay to buy MCI, Pennsylvania is suddenly questioning the decision. Apparently, a state court found that the Public Utility Commission (PUC) "did not study the anticompetitive effects of the merger" and didn't make sure that the merger would benefit customers. Seems a bit late to suddenly be questioning the decision -- though, it could mean that the PUC will go back and impose additional conditions on Verizon (sure to be contested). Of course, Pennsylvania has a long, sordid history of letting Verizon (and its predecessors) slide on various agreements. For the various tax breaks given by the state, Verizon was supposed to be delivering much faster connections to many more homes. Instead, they took the money and ran... and now it looks like they got away with a merger without significant review as well.
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  • identicon
    Karnov, 22 Feb 2007 @ 6:48am

    Thats PA for ya.

    Gotta love the bureaucracies we have here in the glorious state of PA.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Silver Bullet, 22 Feb 2007 @ 8:43am

    Dont Worry About PA

    we'll all be saved by all that gambling revenue, so it wont matter anyway.

    Yeah.
    Right.
    -E

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Zalamander, 22 Feb 2007 @ 8:56am

      Re: Dont Worry About PA

      yhea right is right. I live in Jersey and I haven't seen one benefit from the casinos. Or the toll roads for that matter. Capitalism is a wonderful thing especially when its Bureaucrats who F*** up and then expect you to pay more to fix it. Unfriggin real.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        chris (profile), 22 Feb 2007 @ 9:16am

        Re: Re: Dont Worry About PA

        Capitalism is a wonderful thing especially when its Bureaucrats who F*** up and then expect you to pay more to fix it.

        that's not capitalism :-(

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Overcast, 22 Feb 2007 @ 8:47am

    I'm sure some politician made a big load of cash off of it. It's the only thing that politicians really care about... oh well that and money too.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Alexander Fairley, 22 Feb 2007 @ 8:56am

    Syntax Error!

    'Of course, if Pennsylvania has a long, sordid history of letting Verizon (and its predecessors) slide on various agreements.'
    Won't compile...

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Eveil, 22 Feb 2007 @ 10:56am

    Not Capitalism.

    @Zalamander:

    That's not Capitalism, man.

    A rep from Verizon probably took a PA politico out for a nice meal and... *70s porn music begins to play*.

    Market forces don't mean jack when an industry is regulated by the government.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    mrgrimm, 22 Feb 2007 @ 11:00am

    All industries everywhere are regulated by governm

    Except for pirates, of course. And other black markets.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    ScytheNoire, 23 Feb 2007 @ 2:53am

    once again, politicians are being controled by corporations in the practice of screwing over society.

    Good Job America! Corporations FTL!

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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