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FCC approves AT&T buyout of Bellsouth

By TIMES WIRES
Published December 30, 2006

The Federal Communications Commission unanimously approved AT&T Inc.'s $86-billion buyout of BellSouth Corp. on Friday. The FCC's approval was the last major regulatory hurdle for the largest telecommunications merger in U.S. history. Lawyers for AT&T and for two Democratic commissioners who had opposed the merger hammered out a compromise, including an AT&T promise to observe "network neutrality" principles, an offer of $19.95 per month stand-alone digital subscriber line service, and a vow to divest some wireless spectrum.

Goodyear workers vote to end strike

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. workers had mixed emotions about the contract ending their 12-week strike at the world's third largest tiremaker. About 10,000 of 14,000 striking United Steelworkers members from 12 Goodyear plants in 10 states voted Thursday for the three-year agreement that includes plans to close a Texas tire factory but creates a $1-billion health care fund for retirees. The contract was approved by all locals and by the overall membership by a 2-to-1 ratio, the union said Friday. The vote will end the strike that began Oct. 5. Workers return to work Tuesday.

Both sides delay a Comair strike

Passengers booked on Comair flights won't have to worry about a pilots strike interrupting their air travel this holiday weekend. The Delta Air Lines Inc. subsidiary and leaders of the Air Line Pilots Association that represents Comair's 1,500 pilots have agreed to postpone the deadline for reaching a consensual wage-cutting deal. Comair pilots had authorized union leaders to call a strike if the airline throws out their contract and imposes wage cuts and other concessions on them. The airline had planned to do that today if a deal wasn't reached on pilot concessions the airline says it needs to emerge from bankruptcy.

DaimlerChrysler to make cars in China

DaimlerChrysler AG picked China's Chery Automobile Co. to build small cars for its U.S.-based Chrysler unit, the first plan by a major automaker to sell Chinese cars in the world's largest auto market. The letter of intent between the companies must be approved by DaimlerChrysler's supervisory board, which meets in January, Chrysler spokesman Jason Vines said Friday. After approval, production could start "soon," he said. Vines declined to say when U.S. sales might begin.

Chinese rushing to use Internet

China's population of Internet users has risen by 30 percent over the past year to 132-million, a state news agency said Friday. The figure was up from 123-million at the end of June, the Xinhua News Agency said, citing the government's China Internet Network Information Center. It said the number of Chinese customers with broadband access has grown to 52-million. The rapid rise in Internet use has propelled growth in China's online commerce, advertising and games industries, the Internet agency said.

[Last modified December 30, 2006, 00:00:50]