Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.telcom From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: telcom Thu, Feb 20 1992 Date: Thu, 20 Feb 92 06:16:57 EST Message-ID: DECISIONLINE: Telecommunications USA TODAY Update Feb. 20, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network AT&T, MCI SIDE WITH NEWSPAPERS: U.S. newspaper publishers gained two powerful allies Wednesday as they squared off with regional telephone companies in a fight in Congress over who will control how Americans get news and information. AT&T and MCI Communications Corp. said they would favor laws that would keep the regional phone companies from entering the information service business. (For more, see special Hearings package below.) FCC AFFIRMATIVE ACTION NIXED: Women are not entitled to special preference when the government awards broadcast licenses, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday. The ruling said the Federal Communications Commission's affirmative action program discriminates against men. The government failed to prove that its policy promotes diversity on the airwaves. AREA CODE SPLIT PROPOSED: A broad-based citizens committee said Wednesday it is developing a plan to split the 313 area code in early 1994. The split roughly would follow Eight Mile Road in the Detroit area. Communities such as Detroit, the Grosse Pointes, Ann Arbor and Monroe would remain in the 313 region. Communities such as Farmington, Mount Clemens, Flint, Lapeer, Port Huron and Sandusky would get a new area code. CUSTOMERS CAN CALL IN COMMENTS: After coming up with a plan to split the 313 area code in Michigan a citzens committee headed by Joe O'Connor, president of Consumer Market Analysts in Birmingham says it will discuss its plan with community leaders. The group was enlisted by Michigan Bell last fall because the existing area code is running out of numbers. Customers can phone in their comments at 1-800-831-8989. TCI SELLS CINEMA CHAIN: Tele-Communications (TCI), the largest operator of cable television systems in the USA, said Wednesday it has agreed to sell the United Artists cinema chain to a management buyout. The buyout is backed by Merrill Lynch Capital Partners, for about $680 million. TELETEK COMPLETES DEAL: Teletek Inc. Wednesday said it has closed a stock purchase agreement with the Higgins Family Limited Partnership. The agreement is for Teletek to acquire the controlling interest from Higgins, of United Payphone Services Inc. United is a Reno, Nev., based company operating privately owned pay telephones in Nevada, California, Arizona and Idaho. VERMONT AGENCY TO ACT ON PLAN: A plan that would allow state-owned mountaintops in Vermont to be used for commercial antennas, microwave towers and transmitters is before The State Agency of Natural Resources. Supporters say the current limit on such commercial use puts some areas at an economic disadvantage. Foes fear "unsightly clutter." ACC TO ENHANCE PRODUCT LINE: Advanced Computer Communications said Wednesday it plans to enhance its internetworking product line. The company says it has raised $10 million of new equity. "We intend to develop new products and features, expand distribution channels and elevate customer support programs," ACC CEO Ossama Hassanein said. ACC's product portfolio includes six bridge:router platforms. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON HEARINGS: BELLS COULD COMPETE WITH AT&T: The Baby Bells are lobbying Congress to lift restrictions set up 10 years ago so they can get into the electronic information business. Newspaper publishers are lobbying just as hard to keep the Baby Bells out of the business. Long distance carriers AT&T and MCI are siding with newspapers because they want to make sure the Baby Bells remain out of the long distance business. CEO PRAISES EARLIER RULING: Robert E. Allen, chairman and CEO of AT&T, said his company is joining the newspapers because the breakup of his company 10 years ago "has proven to be one of the most successful antitrust remedies in our nation's history. It has led to reductions in prices, and increases in choices for consumers." BATTLE OF LOBBYISTS BEGINS: Lobbyists jammed a Capitol Hill hearing room Wednesday as the House Judiciary subcommittee on economic and commercial law opened hearings on the issue. The Baby Bells have combined annual revenues of about $60 billion, while the newspaper industry takes in some $33 billion each year, said Cathleen Black, president of the American Newspaper Publishers Association. BELLS WOULD HAVE ADVANTAGE: Black said the Baby Bells would be unfair competitors if they were allowed to enter the electronic publishing business. "As long as the (telephone companies') main business is telephone service, including service to independent electronic publishers, they will have incentive to develop and improve their networks," Black said. (End of package.) Telecommunications Editor: Ed Kelleher. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. 08:0002200000D0220 TREN- R J Middle-class-is-shrinking............. A D0220 This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. 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