GOOGLE CHAIRMAN ERIC SCHMIDT IN THE US SENATE

Google chairman Erich Schmidt will testify before the Senate antitrust subcommittee in September to answer questions about the company's growing dominance of the Internet.

Google had been reluctant to have Mr. Schmidt or other senior executives testify at a time when the Internet search giant is confronting a broad array of investigations into its business practices. But last month, senators on the panel warned they would use their subpoena power to compel one to appear.

On Friday, Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wisc.), chairman of the subcommittee, announced that the company had complied with their demand.

"We look forward to Eric Schmidt's participation at our Antitrust Subcommittee hearing in September," Sen. Kohl said in a statement. "This will allow us to have a truly informational and thorough public hearing."

No date has been set for the hearing, though the Senator's office expects it to take place in September.

In a June 10 letter, Sen. Kohl, along with the ranking Republican member, Sen. Mike Lee, insisted that Google send either Mr. Schmidt or Chief Executive Larry Page to testify. Google had offered up David Drummond, the company's chief legal officer.

"We would very much prefer to work this out by agreement rather than needing to resort to more formal procedures," the senators warned in the letter.

Source:(WSJ)