PRESS DIGEST - Washington Post Business - Oct 3

WASHINGTON, Oct 3 (Reuters) - The Washington Post included the following items on the front page of its business section on Oct. 3. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

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When Jeff Zucker took over media giant NBC Universal from longtime chief executive Bob Wright in February, he inherited more than the task of lifting the slumping network out of the ratings basement. Zucker also took on Wright's self-appointed role as the industry's torchbearer on fighting piracy.

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Key Democratic lawmakers are pressing telephone companies to disclose how they shared Americans' calling and Internet data with the government, part of an inquiry into domestic surveillance efforts such as the National Security Agency's warrantless wiretapping program.

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A private equity group tried to revive takeover talks with Sallie Mae on Tuesday by proposing a cheaper purchase price, but the student lending giant stonewalled the $21 billion offer.

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The Energy Department announced that it was giving power companies new leverage to force landowners to permit the installation of electric transmission lines.

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