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Reports on the proposal by telecommunication company AT&T to acquire BellSouth and their Cingular Wireless joint venture as of March 2006. Value of the deal; Concern raised by the proposed merger.

Reports on an order issued by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission on December 9, 2005, which assigns unused spectrum in the 2-GHz Mobile Satellite Services bands to satellite systems provider Terrestar Networks Inc. and ICO Satellite Services. Views of Terrestar CEO Robert Brumley on the advantages of the spectrum assignment to the firm; Background on the exclusion of Inmarsat from the assignment; Capabilities to wireless carriers to be provided by Terrestar.

This article offers views on the gap in the Federal Communications Commission's membership. It comments on the commission's unprofessional scheduling and rescheduling of its open meetings in filling its membership vacancies. It also criticizes the apparent approval of the FCC towards the merger applications of SBC Communications/AT&T and Verizon/MCI.

The article presents business reports from China as of April 2006. Excessive capitalization requirements are imposed for telecom-sector licenses. Content filtering, censorship and surveillance on the Internet are prevalent, including the blocking of objectionable foreign Web sites. There are also attempts to stop Voice over Internet Protocol services in order to protect its domestic fixed-line telecom companies.

Discusses issues concerning litigations by private enterprise in the U.S. and France in 2006. Issues concerning the forbearance petition of Verizon; Ruling of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission concerning wireless companies; Information on the court case of France Telecom.

The article reports on the hearings on telecommunication reform that will be conducted by the U.S. Congress in 2006. It anticipates some people who will testify at the hearings. Topics that will be addressed at the hearings are cited.