European Commission Puts the Brakes on MCI-WorldCom Merger

Following is the statement of Morton Bahr, president of the Communications Workers of America, on the decision by the European Commission to conduct a Phase II, four-month investigation of the proposed mega-merger between MCI Communications and WorldCom Inc.:

We are pleased that the European Commission has declined to rubber stamp the proposed mega-merger between MCI and WorldCom, and has determined instead that a thorough examination of the serious consequences of this proposed deal is necessary. In its decision to move to an extended Phase II review, the European Commission recognizes the serious implications raised by monopoly control of the Internet by these companies, and other issues that affect Europe.

We hope that regulators in the United States, including the U.S. Justice Department, Federal Communications Commission, state public service commissions, and Congress, will look seriously at the implications of an MCI-WorldCom monoply in long distance and vital Internet backbone.