Say AT&T must refute allegations of service discrimination, " . . . the last wired and the last hired."

The mayors of New Orleans, Detroit, and Compton, California have asked the Federal Communications Commission to deny AT&Ts proposed merger with BellSouth, alleging that the telecom giant has a history of redlining minority regions.

"The proposed merger has the potential to exacerbate the differences in access to telecommunications services based on race, income level, and geography," write mayors Kwame M. Kilpatrick of Detroit, Eric J. Perrodin of Compton, and Ray Nagin of New Orleans, in a filing dated June 5th.

The FCC issued a call for comments on the merger on April 19th. Since then the proceeding has generated over 11 thousand filings, most of them brief.

In their 31 page statement, the three mayors cite studies and newspaper reports suggesting that AT&T redlines minority neighborhoods—that is, systematically denies or delays service to low-income ethnic areas. The petition describes these regions as the "last wired and the last hired," and expresses concern that the merger could reduce opportunities for minority contractors.

The filing also charges that minority neighborhood residents often receive shoddy service from AT&T.

"In deciding whether to approve this proposed merger," the mayors write, "the Commission should consider the past practices of AT&Ts cable and telephone affiliated companies and impose conditions on the merger to ensure that these illegal practices do not continue."

Kilpatrick, Perrodin, and Nagin say they want the FCC to make AT&T conduct "redlining assessments" in their cities before granting a merger with BellSouth.

AT&T has not filed a written reply in this proceeding specifically addressed to the three mayors charges. The FCCs June 5th deadline for comments and petitions has passed. Interested parties can still file responses to petitions and oppositions by June 20th.

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