broadband Internet services. Some feel that the Federal Commerce Commission has disregarded critical facts, its own rules and legal standards to help one giant cable monopoly expand over the cable television and broadband Internet markets. Others state that instead of using it’s merger authority to protect the public against an expanding monopoly the commission has allowed AT&T to extend the reach of it’s cable and broadband internet service monopolies and extend the time in which it can abuse consumers and harm potential competitors. The Federal Commerce Commission emphasized that it will scrutinize broadband developments closely and will review it’s policies if competition fails to grow as expected, especially if the merged firm fails o fulfill it’s commitment to open it’s cable systems or otherwise threatens the openness of diversity of the internet. United States law looks to possible anti-trust effects as a result of mergers. First, a merger may diminish competition by reducing the number of firms selling in the relevant market so that they can more successfully engage in coordinated interaction that injures consumers. Second, a merger may create a firm with sufficient market share that it can Unilaterally lessen completion by raising price or curtailing output without fear that other firms can defeat its market maneuvers. Article 85 and 86 of the Treaty of Rome form the basis of EU competition policy. Article 85 Addresses horizontal arrangements while Article 86 regulates the abuse of power in vertical relationships. The primary goal of completion policy in the EU is not to protect competition as in the U.S. The primary goal policy is reflected in the purpose of the Treaty of Rome to integrate the European Community. It is hoped that the competition policy and the integrations of the European Community will benefit the consumer by making products available at the lowest possible costs and manufacture...
