WASHINGTON, May 26 (UPI) -- Company executives of Verizon Communications and MCI Inc. are attempting to alleviate criticism from industry competitors by saying their proposed $8.5 billion marriage will create a stronger competitive force in the telecom market without eliminating competition.
In a joint statement earlier this week
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Verizon and MCI also filed a joint statement with the Federal Communications Commission rebutting claims by more than a dozen competitors and consumer advocates objecting to the merger. They said it would create more options for customers nationwide by delivering next-generating multimedia services
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Verizon and MCI agree a merger would promote greater competition for U.S. customers and allow the combined company to compete effectively nationwide, Michael E. Glover, Verizon's senior vice president, explained at a news conference. "It doesn't seem credible for us to stop competing," he said.
The two companies are attempting
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Concerns about whether combining the phone giants will result in too much control over access to the Internet have left representatives of large business customers, consumer groups and industry competitors worried.
In an attempt to preserve competition in the industry, opponents have asked the FCC to place conditions on telecom mergers to mitigate any price increases. In addition, some have asked the agency to apply certain conditions to companies seeking merger opportunities.
Britain's BT Group Plc, the largest telecommunications company to oppose the deal, told the FCC in a May 9 filing that acquisitions would create a global duopoly in business and Internet backbone services.
Glover denied BT's claim, however, saying the combined company would be just one among many competitors in the enterprise market and would hold a 16 percent to 22 percent market share. He also added that the Verizon-MCI merger would not harm competition for telecom services using the Internet -- also called Internet backbone services.
Supporting Glover's claims, James L. Lewis
canada goose barn, MCI's senior vice president of policy and planning, said Verizon, which only has a "minor (Internet) backbone," would have less than a 10 percent share of North American Internet traffic after it merges with MCI. "The combination of Verizon and MCI would make it the fourth largest carrier of Internet traffic, in the middle of seven backbone providers of larger and comparable size."
Janee Briesemeister, senior policy analyst at Consumers Union's southwest office in Austin, Texas
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"They can spin the numbers and twist the definitions of the market so they can look less dominant," Briesemeister said. "The truth is Verizon will be even more dominant (with the merger)."
Verizon and MCI officials said thus far they are pleased with the progress of the transaction.
Tom Tauke, executive vice president at Verizon, said though company officials do not expect the FCC to impose conditions at the federal level, they are uncertain if individual states will impose their own conditions due to varying statutory requirements.
"It is important for the FCC to look at the market the way it is -- not the way it was
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Verizon's quest to acquire MCI began Feb. 14 when Verizon announced a $6.75 billion deal to buy MCI.
Since then
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MCI has sided with Verizon from the start, claiming its larger size and financial stability would be a better value to customers
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"The transaction is one that is complementary
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Katherine Torres is an intern for UPI Science News. E-mail: sciencemail@upi.com
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