Time Warner, New York, yesterday agreed to give Internet service provider EarthLink access to its high-speed Web services on its cable system.
The move is seen as a stepping stone to the completion of Time Warner's planned merger with America Online, Dulles, VA.
Federal regulators are requiring the companies to allow competitors access to their high-speed cable lines before granting final approval of the $112 billion merger.
EarthLink, Atlanta, the nation's No. 2 ISP, said in a statement yesterday that it expects to begin offering services on Time Warner's system in the second half of 2001.
Financial terms of the agreement, which is dependent on Federal Trade Commission approval as well as finalization of the Time Warner/AOL deal, were not released.
Juno Online Services struck a similar deal with Time Warner in July.
