Executives touted the benefits to consumers of marrying the world's largest Internet service provider with the second largest cable TV company - which also owns movie studios, music labels and magazines. But Marketplace's John Dimsdale reports federal regulators imposed conditions to make sure the conglomerate's size won't reduce consumer choices.
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AOL has registered 140 million users of its service, which is far and away the most of any messaging system. Especially since it won't be long before instant messaging will include audio and even video, the FCC realized AOL is well on its way to creating what is, in effect, a monopoly phone system. William Kennard is the FCC's chairman. But Kennard said the restrictions are narrowly tailored to make sure there will be competition. In Washington, I'm John Dimsdale for Marketplace.