You said it yourself long ago when you stated that cable ISPs must offer the consumer choice. Comcast or TCI or COX must offer each subscriber ATHM, RR, AOLBB, or FTF. Since these cable MSOs retain their government endowed fiefdoms just like the RBOCs, then they must do what the RBOCs don't want to do, allow alternatives on their facilities.
Comcast's breaking off to gobble RR and form an independent delivery is an unintended competitive market creating action. T cannot contradict that action. Otherwise T's action is anti-competitive. Further, since UMG won't agree to be purchased under the proviso that RR is separated, no offer of T's can be accepted by the FCC. Only another outside offer could be allowed. So if no one steps up, the FCC will deny, but if another bidder steps up and wins, the FCC would embrace that deal. T can't contend and I believe they won't.
This may be an acceptable outcome for T since they are going to lose Comcast and RR anyway. Acceptable here means that T will make such a purchase expensive and maybe hobbling so that Comcast-UMG or XYZ-UMG will be at a financial disadvantage, a scorched earth strategy as it were. |
