American Telephone & Telegraph formally asked the...

American Telephone & Telegraph formally asked the Commerce Department to investigate charges that manufacturers in Japan, Taiwan and South Korea are setting unfairly low prices on their small-business phone equipment marketed in the United States. AT&T;, which said earlier this month that it would seek an investigation, set out its accusations of unfair competition in a petition, accusing more than a dozen manufacturers that sell products under more than 17 brand names. Under U.S. law, it is illegal for foreign companies to sell products in the U.S. market for less than they sell them at home.