TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Bells Ask to Offer Long-Distance Wireless: Seven regional Bells, including U.S. West Inc., asked for relief from rules that restrict them from providing wireless long-distance services, the company said. In a filing with U.S. District Judge Harold Greene, the Baby Bells asked for a waiver to the 1982 consent decree that broke up AT&T; and created the Bells but restricted them from manufacturing and providing long-distance services. The request follows a recommendation last week by the Justice Department that the regional companies be allowed to provide wireless long-distance services. However, that ruling came with a number of restrictions, which the Bells say will hurt them in competing with other wireless services companies.