Carlyle Group buys local Hawaii phone company...

[zaj]

Hmmm!


http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2004/05/17/daily76.html

Carlyle Group to buy Verizon Hawaii for $1.65 billion
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) and global private investment firm The Carlyle Group announced Friday an agreement to sell Verizon's wireline-related businesses in Hawaii to Carlyle for $1.65 billion.

The deal includes the equity of Verizon Hawaii Inc., which operates 707,000 land lines statewide and the services and assets of Verizon Long Distance, Verizon Online and Verizon's directory publishing in Hawaii. Last year, these businesses had sales of $610 million, operating income of $58 million and depreciation expense of $111 million.


Just 3 weeks later...


http://news.com.com/Bush+administration+won%27t+appeal+phone+decision/2100-1037_3-5229698.html

In a blow to long-distance phone companies, the Bush administration won't ask the Supreme Court to reinstate rules forcing local phone carriers to share parts of their networks with rivals.
<snip>
Martin, in a statement, said he's following the Bush administration's lead, which earlier in the day said it would not to seek a court review. "Because the solicitor general decided not to support the FCC's appeal, I no longer support appealing the D.C. Circuit's decision," Martin said.
<snip>
The dispute centers on a decision the FCC made in August, when it said states could set rules that force the big local phone companies to share portions of their networks with AT&T, MCI and other competitors to spur competition.
<snip>
"We applaud the Bush administration for making a tough call today, but one that will bring the benefits to consumers of a stepped-up investment in advanced telecommunications networks by competing providers," Verizon said in a statement.

[lanparty]

1. Service upgrades ...

Did they also announce each home would get broadband and two way wall-mounted "video phones"?