TECHNOLOGY - Sept. 19, 1996

Pacific Bell Cheers Internet Service: The telephone company is expected to announce today that it’s signed up 51,000 subscribers for its Internet access service that began May 28. Pacific Bell, trying to stand out in a crowd of rivals offering Internet access, is allowing subscribers to have the service’s monthly charge billed directly to their Pacific Bell telephone bill. The unit of San Francisco-based Pacific Telesis Group is also expected to note that the early success of its service reflects strong consumer demand in California for Internet services generally.