AT&T is facing a trial in the US Supreme Court over alleged antitrust
violations concerning access fees to the internet.
The case, Pacific Bell Telephone Company (which became AT&T) versus
LinkLine Communications, was brought after local ISPs complained that AT&T
was charging too much for wholesale internet connections.
The ISPs had argued that this made it impossible for them to compete with AT
&T's own services.
Maxwell Blecher, a lawyer for LinkLine who was named 1998 Antitrust Lawyer of
the Year by the California State Bar, claimed that AT&T set prices so high
for outside operators that competition was impossible.
AT&T, meanwhile, has always maintained that its prices are fair and
reasonable.
The case against AT&T was initially accepted by the 9th US Circuit Court
of Appeals in San Francisco, which said that such price fixing had gone on for
60 years. AT&T has now asked the Supreme Court to rules on the matter.
"We are pleased that the US Supreme Court has agreed to hear our appeal," AT
&T said in a statement.
AT&T is planning to argue that the case is not covered under existing
antitrust legislation and should therefore be dismissed.
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