Microsoft chairman Bill Gates telephoned the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission last week to urge a close examination of America Online's dominance in instant messaging, a Microsoft representative confirmed.
The call came as the FCC closes in on a recommendation concerning AOL's proposed merger with Time Warner, which could include requiring AOL (NYSE: AOL) to make concessions on instant messaging, according to sources close to the agency.
Gates' round of calls Thursday and Friday included FCC Chairman William Kennard, Commissioner Susan Ness and Commissioner Michael Powell, the Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) representative confirmed.
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