Baby Bells plan to press U.S. to relax curbs; AT&T, Rivals Face Off in Wireless Wars

Article Abstract:

Legislators and regulators are unlikely to keep AT and T from acquiring McCaw Cellular Communications Inc. Rather than trying to block the acquisition, the Baby Bells plan to use the alliance to push their case for more regulatory relief. The seven Baby Bells will lobby Congress to allow them to manufacture telephone equipment, provide long-distance telephone service and provide cable-TV service in their own service areas. The Baby Bells fear that AT and T/McCaw could offer wireless phone services that will allow businesses and consumers to bypass the local telephone company altogether. Consumer groups say it is still too early to free the Baby Bells, while legislators and regulators are unlikely to give the Baby Bells substantial regulatory freedom until their market share drops by a quarter or more from today's 99 percent level.

Telecommunications services industry, Telecommunications industry, Telephone companies, T, Deregulation, Lobbying, Telephone Company

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Bell Atlantic Corp. urges FCC to force smaller rivals to disclose their rates

Article Abstract:

Bell Atlantic Corp asks the Federal Communications Commission to require certain competitors to publish their rates. The competitors, which include Baltimore Gas and Electric and Metropolitan Fiber Systems Inc, operate microwave or fiber-optic connections that transmit voice and data communications for corporations and long-distance service providers. Bell Atlantic, a Bell regional telephone company, contends that the companies violate the Communications Act by failing to file their rates with the FCC. Bell Atlantic says the companies can offer special prices to specific customers, thus snagging customers from Bell Atlantic, which must publish its prices. Bell Atlantic is encouraged by a recent federal appeals court ruling against the FCC's policy of requiring only 'dominant' carriers to publish their rates.

Telephone communications, exc. radio, Laws, regulations and rules, United States. Federal Communications Commission, Bell Atlantic Corp., BEL, Competition, Telecommunications Service, Court Cases, Pricing Policy

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