TELECOMMUNICATIONS

FCC Wants France Telecom Sale Plan: The Federal Communications Commission wants the country to spell out its plans to privatize France Telecom before approving a joint venture with Deutsche Telekom and Sprint Corp., Chairman Reed Hundt said. Hundt said liberalization of the telecommunications market, the privatization of France Telecom and the establishment of an independent regulator are all relevant to its approval of the joint venture. While the FCC is unlikely to contradict the July 13 approval by the Justice Department, Hundt said his commission could set more conditions. He said the FCC has to put the deal “under the microscope” because it deals with markets that are far from competitive.