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Technology Stocks : AUTOHOME, Inc -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Guardian who wrote (16395)	10/25/1999 3:02:00 PM
From: im a survivor	Respond to of 29970

You folks willlook at the following as bad news for ATHM...I look at it as inevitable, and good news in the long run. ATHM is not going anywhere....great long term hold. But the sooner we solve this access problem, the sooner everybody can concentrate on the business at hand. Eventually, a suitor will "merge" with ATHM. Open access will just make it happen sooner. The sooner athm joins forces with say....aol, the quicker they will prosper and flourish. This much I know......if they try to go head to head with AOL, they will lose. They know this and will not let this happen. Some way...somehow, they will all work this out and better days will be in front of all of us. Yes, I am long ATHM and am hoping a deal with aol is in the works...If Gates and MSFT is involved, I am out of here as quick as I can find the door. Cambridge Calls for "Open Access" Before Approving Cable Transfer Agreement from Media One to AT&T CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts -- City Manager Robert W. Healy told AT&T they must provide open access to its high-speed cable network for other internet service providers (ISPs) before the city will approve a transfer agreement from Media One to AT&T. "Cambridge consumers deserve the choices and competition that should result from a requirement of non-discriminatory access to broadband cable," Healy said. Healy believes that allowing cable infrastructure owners to favor partners and affiliates would squeeze out the vast majority of independent ISPs. While a few of the bigger ISPs can get access, the vibrant creativity and vigorous competition from hundreds of ISPs could be squelched. "As a matter of principle, the open flow of ideas, information and commerce is the cornerstone of our democracy and economy," he added. As sole authority over the licensing of Cable TV in Cambridge, Healy sent a letter to AT&T informing them that open access must occur if they want the transfer from MediaOne to AT&T approved. If AT&T agrees to the request, and other factors under negotiation are successfully resolved, the decision for the license transfer agreement will be favorable. Healy pointed out that efforts by state and federal regulators to preempt local authority were inappropriate. "The City is the franchising authority," he stressed. "The cable companies use our streets to enter the homes of our residents." Companies that built the broadband lane on the information superhighway could certainly charge a reasonable toll to ISPs to use it but shouldn't seal off the entrance to them. MediaOne has completed all their fiber optic build out in Cambridge and has a growing customer base that is enjoying broadband access, even though the price is significant for the individual residential customer. "I do not expect them to pack up their wires and leave Cambridge with the imposition of this requirement," Healy said, adding that in Somerville and other cities around the country they have threatened not to build a broadband network if open access is required. "I am confident that they have the technical know-how and the business negotiation skills to find a way to share their facilities with others to the benefit of Cambridge customers." Contact: Ini Tomeu, Public Information Officer Ph. (617) 349-4339 Fax (617) 349-4307