The planned merger between MCI Corp and British Telecommunications Plc would fuel competition in the US local call market, according to FCC chairman Reed Hundt. The FCC is currently examining the deal and is expected to give its decision in the fall. Speaking to a Japanese business group, the Federation of Economic Organizations, Hundt said: “We generally believe that the merger could very much strengthen the possibility that MCI would compete in the local market.” He added that the FCC is concerned about the merged company’s marketing in Britain, however, but did not elaborate.
