Gte Asks Judge To Scrap Decree

GTE Corp. said Thursday it asked a federal judge in Washington, D.C., to scrap a 1984 consent decree that prevents the company’s telephone unit from offering long-distance service.

A favorable ruling would also allow GTE to offer video services via its phone lines. The Baby Bells also have asked for modification of a separate consent decree that keeps them out of the long-distance and video markets.

GTE agreed to the provision in order to gain Justice Department approval for its 1982 acquisition of Southern Pacific Communications Co., now the long-distance carrier Sprint, and Southern Pacific Satellite Co., or Spacenet.

The company sold Sprint in 1992 and Spacenet in 1994.