BRIEFCASE.Byline: -- Staff and Wire Services Weather delays grape harvest SANTA MARIA -- The Central Coast wine grape harvest is running two to three weeks behind, apparently because cooler weather delayed the ripening ripening said of meat. See curing. cycle. Some vineyards began picking grapes in late August, but pinot noir and chardonnay grapes in Santa Barbara County didn't kick off the harvest until this month. It's the second year the harvest has been delayed. In 2005, grape picking didn't start until early October because of a cooler September. Cold weather slows the natural elevation of ``brix'' -- sugar content -- in the grape, and winemakers usually wait for warmer days before they start picking, said Chris Brown, head winemaker at Central Coast Wine Services Central Coast Wine Services is a multi-winery processing and warehouse facility located in Santa Maria, CA. History The Central Coast Wine Services was founded in 1988 by the Miller family[1] . FCC (1) (Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC, www.fcc.gov) The U.S. government agency that regulates interstate and international communications including wire, cable, radio, TV and satellite. The FCC was created under the U.S. chief backs AT&T purchase WASHINGTON -- The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission Federal Communications Commission (FCC), independent executive agency of the U.S. government established in 1934 to regulate interstate and foreign communications in the public interest. is recommending approval of AT&T Inc.'s $67 billion purchase of BellSouth Corp., people familiar with the matter said Friday. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin circulated a recommendation approving the purchase without conditions late Thursday night, meaning a formal vote is likely to occur at the agency's Oct. 12 meeting. The FCC's action is unusual because it comes before the Justice Department has reached a decision on whether the deal will adversely affect competition and possibly harm consumers. Senate imposes check on raters WASHINGTON -- The Senate acted Friday to impose more oversight on the biggest credit-rating agencies, criticized by some lawmakers as unfairly dominating the field and hindering competition. The three powerful Wall Street agencies -- Moody's Investors Service Moody's Investors Service A leading global credit rating, research and risk analysis firm. Moody's Investors Service A leading firm engaged in credit rating, risk analysis, and research of fixed-income securities and their issuers. , Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings Fitch Ratings An international rating agency for financial institutions, insurance companies, and corporate, sovereign, and municipal debt. Fitch Ratings has headquarters in New York and London and is wholly owned by FIMALAC of Paris. -- largely police themselves. Critics have pressed for legislation that would give the Securities and Exchange Commission expanded oversight over the credit raters. The agencies issue grades of creditworthiness Creditworthiness The condition in which the risk of default on a debt obligation by that entity is deemed low. Creditworthiness Eligibility of an individual or firm to borrow money. on companies with publicly held securities. Their ratings are closely watched by markets and can determine whether banks and other financial institutions invest in a company. The bill, passed by voice vote, seeks to increase competitiveness in credit rating by establishing a registration process for other companies that want to gain recognition as nationally recognized statistical rating organizations. |
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