FCC Deadlocked on AT&T

AP via Forbes:

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin on Friday initiated a process that may break the deadlock in the agency's vote on AT&T Inc.'s proposed acquisition of BellSouth Corp. by allowing a fifth commissioner who had recused himself to participate.

Martin asked the general counsel for the Federal Communications Commission to consider whether Robert McDowell ought to be authorized to participate in the deliberations on the roughly $80 billion deal, FCC officials said Friday.