EWWW...alternately: there really should only be one telecom company. And it should be verizon. Because they're so darn nice.

AT&T, BellSouth merger passes antitrust test | Tech News on ZDNet: "AT&T, BellSouth merger passes antitrust test

10 / 11 / 06 | By Marguerite Reardon
AT&T and BellSouth got the green light from U.S. antitrust authorities on Wednesday to move forward with their proposed $67 billion merger, which will create the largest phone company in the United States.

The Department ofJustice's antitrust division issued a statement approving the merger unconditionally.

'After thoroughly investigating AT&T's proposed acquisition of BellSouth, the antitrust division determined that the proposed transaction is not likely to reduce competition substantially,' Thomas Barnett, assistant attorney general in charge of the Justice Department's antitrust division, said in a statement. 'The merger would likely result in cost savings and other efficiencies that should benefit consumers.'

The merger still needs approval from the Federal Communications Commission, which is scheduled to vote on the matter Thursday.

Announced in March, the merger is the latest in a long line of telecommunications mergers in the last few years.

Last year, the Justice Department approved the $16 billion merger between long-distance carrier AT&T and the local-telephony company SBC Communications. It also approved the $6.7 billion merger between MCI and Verizon Communications.

Critics have staunchly opposed these mergers"