2 Bell Atlantic executives promoted to vice chairmen

Article Abstract:

Bell Atlantic Chmn and CEO Raymond W. Smith promotes CFO Lawrence T. Babbio Jr and Pres James G. Cullen to vice chairmen, setting up a competition to succeed Smith. For his part, Smith, 56, disavows any plans to step down in the next few years. The two appointees have sharply contrasting personalities. The frank-speaking Babbio has been one of Bell Atlantic's key dealmakers. He worked on the ill-fated effort to acquire Tele-Communications Inc and represented Bell Atlantic in negotiations with AirTouch Communications, U S West and Nynex Corp to set up a national cellular telephone network. Babbio will oversee Bell Atlantic's network operations, which include a multibillion-dollar effort to upgrade the company's infrastructure so it can deliver video to homes. Cullen, 52, has been Bell Atlantic's lead man in Washington, advocating for regulatory approval to acquire TCI and enter the long-distance business. He will now oversee Bell Atlantic's marketing efforts.

Officials and employees, Appointments, resignations and dismissals, Executive, New Appointment, Babbio, Lawrence T., Jr., Cullen, James G.

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Service deal by Nynex to aid rivals

Article Abstract:

Nynex Corp, yielding to pressure from state and federal regulators, opens up competition in the New York market by reducing the fees it charges MFS Communications Corp for using Nynex' network. Perhaps most importantly, Nynex agrees to allow new MFS customers to keep their original phone number without having to pay fees as high as $70 per month. Nynex also agrees to an equitable fee arrangement with MFS. Before, Nynex would charge MFS whenever one of its customers called a Nynex customer, but would not pay MFS when a Nynex customer called a MFS customer. The contract may be duplicated in other states and in New York itself, where Nynex is negotiating with at least five rivals. MFS sells fiber-optic phone service to business users in 21 US cities. By opening up the local phone-service market, Nynex may help itself win federal regulatory approval to enter the cable-TV and long-distance markets.

Contracts, Local telephone service, Competition, Cooperative Agreements, NYNEX Corp., NYN, MFS Communications Company Inc.

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Bell Atlantic's (mild) interest in public broadcasting stake

Article Abstract:

Sen Larry Pressler, the chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, says that Bell Atlantic and other telecommunications companies might take a stake in the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which Republican lawmakers want to strip of government funding. The corporation accounts for about 14 percent of public broadcasting funding, with the rest coming from private and business sources. Pressler, an advocate of defunding, says that Bell Atlantic is interested in acquiring public TV stations and original programming. The Baby Bell has already talked with public-TV producers. Republican critics say that public TV executives have blown opportunities to make money from, say, licensing rights to 'Barney.' Ownership by a for-profit business would ensure greater stewardship of public stations' financial interests, they contend.

Television Broadcasting, Television broadcasting stations, Finance, Television broadcasting industry, Investments, Science and technology policy, Digital television, Public television, Government Funding, Government aid, Pressler, Larry, United States. Corporation for Public Broadcasting

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