| BUSINESSWEEK ONLINE : OCTOBER 18, 1999 ISSUE | ||||||||
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| COVER STORY
Bernie's Challenges REGULATORY The FCC vows to take a close look at the proposed Sprint takeover. In particular, the agency worries about concentration in long distance and in the Internet backbone. TECHNOLOGICAL The merged company is building its local strategy around largely untested wireless systems. The company maintains that the systems are reliable and cost effective. But so far analysts aren't convinced. FINANCIAL Ebbers is paying a whopping 50% premium over what Sprint's market value was before deal speculation began in late September. It will take enormous synergies--and cost-savings--to justify such a rich price. CULTURAL Swallowing Sprint just one year after closing the MCI merger could create a management nightmare. One plus: Sprint's CEO, Bill Esrey, stays on as chairman of the combined companies and is likely to take a more activist role than current chairman, Bert Roberts--former chief at MCI--has played. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ |
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 RELATED ITEMS The Main Event: Bernie vs. Mike COVER IMAGE: Mike vs. Bernie TABLE: Two Titans, Two Gambits What It Will Take to Win TABLE: A Bigger No. 2 TABLE: Bernie's Challenges AT&T: The Problems Keep on Coming CHART: Plenty of Snags Lately TABLE: AT&T's Six Challenges TABLE: Turmoil at the Top Commentary: All These Mergers Are Great, But... ONLINE ORIGINAL: Some Sorry Scores from AT&T's California Testbed ONLINE ORIGINAL: Why These Sprint Shareholders Are Eating Dust INTERACT E-Mail to Business Week Online | |||
