Mediaone Group Inc

AT&T Corp. said it would sell its interest in Time Warner Entertainment if it does not receive a favorable tax ruling to spin off Liberty Media Group to comply with conditions of its MediaOne Group Inc. purchase. AT&T told the Federal Communications Commission it probably would sell Liberty Media, but it was prepared to put TWE in a trust to comply with the conditions of its merger if it cannot complete the spinoff, according to a letter to the FCC made available Wednesday.

AT&T Corp. and MediaOne Group Inc., which have agreed to combine to form the largest U.S. cable television company, must open their systems to Internet service providers in Broward County, Fla.

Consumer groups are asking federal regulators to block AT&T Corp.'s bid to buy MediaOne Group Inc., saying the cable merger would give the company too much control in the markets for cable TV and high-speed cable Internet services.

MediaOne Group Inc., the cable-television company being acquired by AT&T Corp., is expected to approve a plan this week that will clear the way for AT&T to sell a stake in its wireless business to the public, people familiar with the companies said.

Microsoft Corp. said Tuesday it acquired a majority stake in Japan's second-biggest cable TV company in an effort to expand the markets for its software beyond the company's personal computer stronghold.

AT&T Corp. completed its purchase of MediaOne Group Inc. for about $44 billion, becoming the largest U.S. cable television provider serving more than 40% of pay-TV customers.