Feds' antitrust inquiry targets Ariz. builders, telecom firms
Fred Pilot has been sending me links to great stories, but I've been sick and if that weren't bad enough somebody hacked the UIC webmail system and I couldn't get access to my mail. When it rains it pours.

The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating whether exclusive agreements between Arizona developers and communications companies, such as Cox and Qwest, violate antitrust laws... In a so-called preferred-provider agreement, a developer grants a firm, such as Cox or Qwest, exclusive rights to market its services inside a subdivision's model-home offices and gives it other advantages that may discourage competitors.In some cases, home buyers are locked into paying for Internet or telephone service through homeowners association dues, so if they want a competitor's service, they have to pay on top of the dues or, in effect, pay twice.
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