Cable Systems' New Weapon In Phone Battle: Going Private

... The privatization moves by cable systems -- involving three of the eight largest operators -- come as the industry faces a huge clash with telephone companies over which can offer consumers the best package of phone, TV and high-speed Internet services. Cable operators will likely need to move quickly to spend money, perhaps by taking on debt, and to cut prices to respond to the competition. Taking such actions is much easier when a company doesn't have to worry about meeting the quarterly earnings expectations of Wall Street and big investors. ...  Link:  Wall Street Journal.