TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Rate Deals for MCI, Others Ruled Out: Federal regulators generally cannot give long-distance telephone companies competing against AT&T; greater leeway to decide what rates to charge customers, the Supreme Court ruled. By a 5-3 vote, the court struck down a Federal Communications Commission policy that allowed MCI and other AT&T; competitors to offer rates and services not specified in filings with the commission. The policy was designed to foster more competition for AT&T;, which holds a 60% share of the nation’s long-distance market. AT&T; had successfully challenged the policy in the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Agreeing with that court, the justices said federal communications law generally does not authorize the FCC to let smaller long-distance telephone companies cut such special deals with customers.