Sprint to Proceed With Toll-Free IRS Number:...

Sprint to Proceed With Toll-Free IRS Number: US Sprint Communications Co. said it will go ahead with a disputed proposal to offer special 800-number calling for taxpayers seeking information from the Internal Revenue Service. One of Sprint’s major rivals, MCI Communications Corp., had challenged the “enhanced” toll-free offering in court, saying the service fell outside the scope of the contract for the new federal long-distance system known as FTS 2000. Sprint is providing 40% of FTS 2000; AT&T; has 60%. The taxpayer assistance service handles more than 60 million calls per year, according to Sprint, which valued the contract at $450 million over 10 years. MCI said it may file an appeal in the case.