TELECOMMUNICATIONS

AT&T; Talks Nearing Critical Point: Contract talks between American Telephone & Telegraph Co. and its unions are nearing a critical stage after nearly two weeks of intense overtime bargaining, said the company’s chief negotiator, William Ketchum. AT&T; and unions representing 127,000 workers--the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers--should know by today whether an agreement is possible, he said. Union members have authorized their leaders to call a strike if they deem it necessary, but so far they have not threatened a work stoppage.