At&T; Chief Wants Local Markets Open

Now that a federal court has given at least two regional Bell telephone companies a clear path into the long-distance business, the government should consider new ways to make the Bells open their local phone markets to rivals, AT&T’s chief said Monday.

As key provisions of a 1996 law have been struck down by the courts, AT&T has had trouble building its local phone business. Although the it has stopped marketing local service, AT&T says it won’t abandon the business.

The latest blow to AT&T and other local phone competitors came Wednesday when a federal judge paved the way for SBC Communications and U S West to offer long-distance service to their local customers.

“I would submit that the industry and the government need to step back in the midst of all this and discuss alternatives to accomplishing opening markets, having choice and creating local competition,” said AT&T Corp. Chairman C. Michael Armstrong.