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Government castles

Article Abstract:

The US Surface Transportation Board (STB) is currently housed in Washington's trendy business center which is also home to the area's prestigious law firms and posh restaurants. The STB, which moved into the building last march 1997, is following in the tradition of the former Interstate Commerce Commission, which has never lacked for luxurious facilities. The high-rise building offers tenants services such as a full-time concierge, private baths, and a two-story hearing room filled with adornments, closed-circuit television, and a high-end stereo system.

Commercial and Institutional Building Construction, Nonresidential construction, not elsewhere classified, Government Service Bldgs, Column, Buildings and facilities, Public building construction, Public buildings, Decoration and finishing

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Bureaucrats making monopolies

Article Abstract:

Observers criticize that the approval of the Surface Transportation Board, a successor to the Interstate Commerce Commission, favored monopolies more. They claim that monopolism is within the agency itself when it allowed exclusive distribution rights to D.C News and Data to publish its regulatory decisions. They add that although STB decisions can be downloaded to taxpayers' computers, critical pleadings are not made available at the STB's Web site.

Executive Offices, Federal Regulatory Agencies, Publishing industry, Laws, regulations and rules, Public opinion, Monopolistic competition

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