NL International News Briefs

Americans establish Do Not Call registry over Congressional worryThe Federal Trade Commission in Washington has set up a series of changes to its telemarketing rules, including the establishment of a national Do Not Call registry. Most of the changes take effect immediately, but the registry will not be operating until this summer at the earliest. At one point, Republican congressman Billy Tauzin, powerful chair of the House energy and commerce committee, had threatened to delay funding for the registry but endorsed the proposal following discussions with FTC chair Timothy Muris. The committee is now backing the idea. EC to investigate government aid package to France TélécomThe European Commission has agreed to look into objections to the French government’s EUR 9 billion (about $14 billion) loan to France Télécom (NL, Dec. 16/02). Among those filing complaints was Belgian telco Bouygues Telecom, which alleges the loan violates European rules on state aid. FCC reportedly considering changes to local competitionThe Wall Street Journal reports that the Federal Communications Commission will stop forcing ILECs to rent their networks to CLECs at low rates. Four Baby Bells—BellSouth, Qwest, SBC Communications and Verizon—have been lobbying for the change for years and see the proposals as a huge victory for them. Deutsche Telekom unloads real estate to cut debt loadDeutsche Telekom has raised EUR 1.1 billion (about $1.8 billion) by selling off real estate holdings. The company will use the money to slash its debt, listed as EUR 64 billion (approximately $104 billion) last September. Network Associates buys anti-spammer DeersoftNetwork Associates has acquired anti-spam software developer Deersoft. Network Associates plans to incorporate the Palo Alto CA company’s filtering technology into its security devices. Tighter Internet standards established in AustraliaAustralia has launched the National Reliability Framework to ensure Telstra, the national ILEC, maintains acceptable standards for its Internet service. Services cannot have more than three faults in 60 days or four faults in a year. Telstra faces fines of A$10 million (about $8.9 million) for violating the rules. Saudi Arabia launches minor privatization of major telcoSaudi Arabia is selling off 30% of its government-owned telecom company to citizens of the Gulf state. The 90 million shares of Saudi Telecommunications Co. are expected to bring in 15.3 billion riyal (about $6.32 billion). Swedish minister complains about Finnish telco partnerLeif Pagrotsky, the Swedish minister for industry, employment and communications, accuses the Finnish government of abandoning business ideals when making decisions regarding Nordic telco Telia-Sonera. The Finns and Swedes are partners in the tele-phone company. WorldCom white knight to earn US$20 millionTwo American judges have approved a deal that would see new WorldCom Inc. CEO Michael Capellas receive US$20 million in compensation. Saying Capellas had to restore the telco’s reputation, U.S. district judge Jed Rakoff and U.S. bankruptcy judge Arthur Gonzalez okayed a pay packet of US$20 million in cash and equities during the three-year contract, although the CEO cannot get the stock until the telco emerges from bankruptcy. Telekom Malaysia to sue government of GhanaTelekom Malaysia is threatening to sue the government of Ghana over its investment in the African company’s telephony infrastructure. TM paid US$50 million in 2000 for a 15% stake in Ghana Telecom and promised to upgrade the infrastructure but devaluation of the Ghanaian currency and a change in government resulted in a US$100 million loss for TM. The telco complains that it is forced to buy equipment in American dollars but brings in revenues in Ghanaian cedi.

NL International News Briefs

News | January 13, 2003

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