AOL, Time Warner address merger criticism

 

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The companies lobby the U.S. government for support but are met with skepticism, even after announcing they will open high-speed cable lines to other ISPs. "They're rolling the dice and saying, 'If we open access, it's going to open ourselves because we own the market.'" - Bruce Kasrel, analyst, Forrester Research

AOL Time Warner will open cable lines to ISPs update Consumers will be able to subscribe to any ISP supported on Time Warner's cable lines, even if the access provider has no affiliation with AOL. Senator skeptical of AOL, Time Warner pledge update Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Orrin Hatch questions the companies' promise to open their cable TV systems to other ISPs, a key factor in their planned merger. AOL exec calls merger detractors "boogeymen" Ted Leonsis, America Online's president of interactive properties, defends the company's proposed merger with Time Warner at an industry conference in San Francisco. previous coverage AOL ends fight for cable open access America Online ends its lobbying push in various states for legislation requiring cable firms to share high-speed Internet lines with competitors.