Short Take: Dallas approves AT&T-TCI merger, doesn't force "open access"

The city of Dallas, Texas, approved the transfer of cable franchise licenses to AT&T from Tele-Communications Incorporated without requiring "open access." The Dallas City Council approved the merger on a 9-6 vote, despite rumblings that officials were considering a controversial requirement calling for TCI to permit ISP competitors to use its cable networks. Sources said the city could revisit the so-called open access issue when TCI's franchise agreement expires in September 2000.