Announced Actions for November 22, 2002

The Commission has approved four applications from America Online/Time Warner, Inc. (AOLTW) requesting approval of non-affiliated Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and alternative cable broadband service agreements. Pursuant to Paragraph II.A.2 of the decision and order finalized by the Commission on April 17, 2001, concerning AOL's acquisition of Time Warner, Inc., AOLTW had previously requested FTC approval of: 1) LocalNet Corp. (LocalNet) as a non-affiliated ISP and the amended alternative broadband ISP service agreement entered into between Time Warner Cable (TWC) and LocalNet to provide cable broadband ISP service in TWC's Portland, Maine, division; 2) DURO Communications Corp. (DURO) as a non-affiliated ISP and the alternative broadband ISP service agreement entered into between TWC and DURO to provide cable broadband ISP service in TWC's Birmingham, Alabama; Jackson/Monroe, Mississippi; Memphis, Tennessee; and all North Carolina and South Carolina divisions; 3) ShreveNet, Inc. (ShreveNet), a non-affiliated ISP, and the alternative cable broadband ISP service agreement entered into between Time Warner Cable (TWC) and ShreveNet to provide ISP service in TWC's Shreveport, Louisiana, division; and 4) Applied Technology Group, Inc. (ATG), and the alternative broadband ISP service agreement entered into between Time Warner Cable (TWC) and ATG to provide cable broadband ISP service in TWC's Bakersfield, California, division.

The Commission vote to approve the applications was 4-0, with Chairman Timothy J. Muris not participating. (FTC Docket No. C-3989; staff contact is Daniel Ducore, 202-326-2526; see press releases dated November 9, 2000; December 14, 2000; February 26, 2001; April 18, 2001; September 28, 2001; October 4, 2001; October 19, 2001; October 30; November 13, 2001; November 20, 2001; December 4, 2001; December 7, 2001; December 21, 2001; December 27, 2001; February 22, 2002; February 26, 2002; May 10, 2002; May 17, 2002; June 25, 2002; and July 24, 2002.)

Publication of Federal Register Notice:

The Commission has approved the publication of a Federal Register notice regarding a petition submitted by E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (DuPont) to establish a new generic fiber subclass name and definition under the Rules and Regulations Under the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act (Textile Rules). Through the notice, which will be published shortly and is now available on the FTC's Web site, the Commission is announcing that it is amending the Textile Rules to establish a new polyester fiber subclass name and definition for "T400," a synthetic fiber DuPont manufacturers.

The notice summarizes the statutory and regulatory framework for amending the Rules along with the procedural history of this matter, describes the T400 fiber (which will be named "elasterell-p") and the FTC's solicitation of comments via a February 2002 notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Federal Register, and explains why DuPont's application has been approved. It also states that the amendment is effective as of the date the Federal Register notice is published, and provides the amended text as it will appear in the Code of Federal Regulations (16 CFR Part 303). The Commission vote to approve publication of the Federal Register notice was 5-0. (FTC File No. P948404; staff contact is Neil J. Blickman, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 202-326-3038; see press release dated February 1, 2002.)

Commission approval of final consent order:

Following a public comment period, the Commission has approved the issuance of a final consent order in the matter concerning the merger of Shell Oil Company and Pennzoil-Quaker State Company, and authorized the staff to issue responses to the commenters of record. The Commission vote to approve the final consent order was 5-0. (Docket No. C-4059; staff contact is Dennis F. Johnson, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2712; see press release dated September 27, 2002.)

Copies of the documents mentioned in this release are available from the FTC's Web site at http://www.ftc.gov and also from the FTC's Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580. Call toll-free: 1-877-FTC-HELP.