Monopoly Ballsy

A group representing telephone and Internet companies on Wednesday challenged action by US regulators that freed Verizon from rules on its broadband data services for businesses, a 150bn dollar market. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin had supported granting most of the relief the company had requested. Verizon, the #2 US telephone carrier, won deregulation by filing a petition with the FCC which was granted automatically after a 15 month period ended with no steps by the agency to block it. A spokesman for Verizon declined to comment and a spokeswoman for the FCC had no comment.
Satellite television operator DirecTV Group said on Wednesday it is still interested in buying smaller rival EchoStar, but doubts US regulators would allow such a deal. According to Leakman Research Group, DirecTB has 55 percent of the satellite TV market, or 15.1 million subs, and EchoStark has 45 percent, or 11.9 million subs. "Technologies still have to be evaluated." "It's not the easiest boiler plate to put together. I'm personally bullish on the fact that we'll get something done," said Miko Palofdic, CFO of DirecTB Ltd.