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BellSouth Loses Long-Distance Bid in S.C.

Bloomberg News

Federal regulators rejected BellSouth Corp.’s bid to break into the $70-billion-a-year long-distance telephone market, saying the Baby Bell hasn’t opened its local phone market to competitors. The Federal Communications Commission’s denial of BellSouth’s application to offer long-distance service to customers in South Carolina was the third time the agency has blocked a Baby Bell from offering long-distance service. The FCC action signals that it may be some time before the Baby Bells get approved for long-distance in their home territories and can offer customers one-stop shopping for local and long-distance phone service. Shares of Atlanta-based BellSouth fell 19 cents to close at $56.13 on the New York Stock Exchange.

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