Cingular owned by, SBC and Bell South and ATT Wireless are going to be a one happy family business. They will own and operate the lion's share of the US wireless market among other businesses. Wireless is the important component because it is the likely successor technology to the older technology land-line business.

Wasn't the telecommunications breakup supposed to form many smaller REBOCs that would operate independently and bring all sorts of new products and services to the public? Isn't that why ATT was broken into smaller bell operating companies? Is the American consumer supposed to benefit from this merger? Or is it larger companies, getting larger? Is this Bush-anomics in action?

Instead what the US telephone customer got (thanks in large part to an inept FCC) was an industry that ranks 7th in the Networked Society, behind such all stars as South Korea, Taiwan and Finland who are years ahead implementing 3G, the new standard high-speed, video capable protocols. Those countries don't sound so bad until you realize that they set the standards for Europe and Asia our biggest competitors in global markets.

And what has our current FCC leadership done for you?

They've approved a purchase that places 46 Million customers in 97% of the top 100 US markets in Cingular's hands. If small was good why allow big now? If big was good why did they break up ATT? This regulatory body can't decide if they want big or small. The important part is that their indecision and hand-wringing has provided American business with inferior competitive capabilities relative to world markets. A huge mistake that must not continue.

Will the Cingular acquisition of ATT Wireless produce superior service and advanced technology? That is to be seen. While Cingular's acquisition is simply an amusing business reversal, the continued ineptitude at the FCC is a whole other problem. You and your business will feel the brunt of this impact.

What are you losing out on? Try person-to-person video selling, advertising, teaching, mentoring and a host of other activities that are greatly enhanced with face-to-face video supported conversations. Locating a subscriber through the use of geographic applications will have to wait - as will time and place advertising that may accompany it.

What all this adds up to is productivity and the rapid solution to small problems. Seeing the solution or methods via video shortens the learning or teaching experience. When taken over millions of small problems daily the effect is quite large. Generally, video assists solving everyday problems. Europe and Japan have it and the USA does not.

We face the same problems as we did when Japan's rebuilt and redesigned Automobile business began turning out lower cost, lower maintenance, better designed cars. We had to revamp our manufacturer infrastructure. It took decades and lost US auto companies 30 market share points and billions in revenue!

The USA has an immense copper telecommunications infrastructure at a time when the world is rapidly migrating to wireless technology. Will acquisitions like Cingular's improve our world standing in this key business area? Did anyone think to weigh this question in allowing the purchase to move forward? Does anyone in government understand the importance of a superior communications system?

From our perspective the FCC is not just reactionary instead of getting ahead of the problem. They are favoring big business at a time when aggressive competition is needed. In the fast changing world of a Networked Society, a slow, dull and clueless FCC that favors big business is not simply an embarrassment. It is a fatal flaw.

This is not your father's business world. Congress must wake up to the Networked Society and understand the challenges and opportunities presented by Internet. We are followers in a field we need to lead. Regardless, Congress sleeps on.

Terry and Lisa Wellman

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