Open-Access Issue

America Online Inc. and Time Warner Inc. said that the combined company would open its cable system to Internet service providers but that set-top boxes are not included. In a filing with the Federal Communications Commission, the companies expanded on the open-access issue they had addressed in a memorandum of understanding signed in February. Open access has been at the heart of regulators’ concerns over the proposed deal, now valued at $127 billion. Sources familiar with the federal review of the deal have said regulators are concerned that AOL-Time Warner would dominate high-speed cable lines. Separately, Time Warner said it bought closely held Africana.com, a Web site devoted to African culture and history, to attract more black customers to AOL.