Mci Asks Regulators To Rein In Ameritech

MCI Communications Corp. asked federal regulators Monday to stop Ameritech from testing long-distance service in areas where it offers local phone service.

The nation’s second-largest long-distance company, MCI contends that Chicago-based Ameritech needs to get Federal Communications Commission approval to test the service with employees.

Ameritech said it doesn’t.

“It’s like Ford running a car around a test track before it is put in a showroom,” said Bill Pendergast, spokesman for Ameritech Communications Inc., the regional Bell company’s long-distance subsidiary.

MCI accused Ameritech of violating a 1996 law deregulating the communications industries. Pendergast said it’s an attempt to slow down additional long-distance competition.