Gigabyte March on Washington

Covad, Verizon settle legal disputes... Deja vu

Covad announced today a settlement with Verizon of all their billing disputes and dismissing their anti-trust suit against Verizon.

Deja vu... back in 2000, Covad and SBC dance the same tune.

EarthLink to Acquire New Edge Networks
Deal Gives EarthLink Growth Platform for SME customers
12/13/2005 7:00:48 AM


ATLANTA and VANCOUVER, Wash., Dec 13, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via
COMTEX/ -- EarthLink, Inc. (ELNK), the nation's next generation Internet
service provider (ISP), today announced the execution of a definitive
agreement to acquire New Edge Networks, a privately-held single-source
national provider of private Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and secure
multi-site managed data networks and dedicated access for businesses and
communications carriers.

The acquisition of New Edge Networks will enable EarthLink to easily and
quickly expand its business in the fast growing small and medium business
market. The Vancouver, Wash.-based company will give EarthLink one of the
largest data communications networks in the country and a customer base that
is expected to generate approximately $120 million in revenues in 2005.

Republicans and Democrats on the House Commerce Committee plan to meet this afternoon to discuss strategy for moving legislation to overhaul the 1996 Telecommunications Act. The discussions -- which will involve House Commerce Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX), Ranking Member John Dingell (D-MI), and Reps. Fred Upton (R-MI), Edward Markey (D-MA) and Charles (Chip) Pickering (R-MI) -- will determine whether the committee is going to act on a bipartisan telecom reform bill or one that moves only with Republican support.

In a letter date December 6th, 2005 to the House Commerce Committee, CompTel urges them to slow things down.  Comptel Letter .(pdf)