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Microsoft/Yahoo! 'internet competition' hearing postponed
But be prepared if Yahoo! accepts…

By Anne Broache

Published: Friday 08 February 2008

The first - and so far, only - Capitol Hill committee to place a hearing about Microsoft's $44.6bn Yahoo! bid on its calendar is now postponing that event.

Just hours after word of the proposed deal emerged last Friday, the US House of Representatives Judiciary Committee's antitrust task force said it planned to hold a hearing on 8 February to examine "the state of competition on the internet", including Microsoft's Yahoo! plans.

But since then, "scheduling conflicts" have intervened, forcing the panel to cancel the hearing for the moment, a Democratic aide said.

Meanwhile, a rival House committee recently announced plans to keep an eye on any merger activity, and a Senate antitrust panel said it would be prepared to hold a hearing if Yahoo! accepts Redmond's offer.