NATION : AT&T; Seeks Valentine Discounts

American Telephone & Telegraph Co. today proposed offering special Valentine’s Day discounts on long-distance calling for residential, business and international customers in an effort to make amends for the near-collapse of its network Monday.

The company, in a filing with the Federal Communications Commission, said it wants approval to declare Feb. 14 an additional day of holiday calling.

“We are making this gesture to underscore how much we value our relationship with our customers, knowing there is no way to make up for the inconvenience they may have experienced,” said AT&T; Chairman Robert E. Allen.

AT&T;’s special holiday prices, discounted an average 33% from regular weekday prices, would apply on all out-of-state, direct-dialed long-distance calls made by residence and business customers on AT&T;’s public network.

In addition, AT&T; said, price discounts would apply to customers of its 800 services.