FCC Finally Approves MCI WorldCom Merger

(September 15, 1998)  The Federal Communications Commission approved the merger of MCI and WorldCom on Monday, September 14.

The FCC's Report is over 200 pages long.  It found that the merger of  the two companies would have no anticompetitive effects on the provision of domestic long distance telephone service, international long distance telephone service, local telephone service, or Internet services.  The FCC found that WorldCom and MCI demonstrated that the merger is consistent with the "pro-competitive, de-regulatory" framework of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and may produce tangible benefits to consumers.

The approvals of U.S. and European Union regulators was held up will MCI negotiated, and then divested itself of Internet assets.

"We have the right network - built for the explosive demand for high-speed data and Internet services - the right talent, and the right strategy at the right time," said Bernard  Ebbers, President and CEO of the new MCI WorldCom, in a press release.

Related Websites:

• MCI's Merger Information Page.
• WorldCom's Merger Information Page.