TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Bell Atlantic, Nynex Seek Cellular Merger: The two big East Coast telephone companies are expected to announce today a plan to merge their wireless communications businesses. If approved by regulators, the deal would result in the creation of the nation’s second-largest cellular phone company and would help the two companies challenge AT&T; and MCI for nationwide leadership in wireless communications. AT&T; is seeking to acquire McCaw Cellular, the nation’s largest cellular firm, while MCI has allied with Nextel Communications, which owns valuable wireless licenses. The Bell Atlantic-Nynex deal also marks the first time that any of the regional Bell operating companies created by the breakup of AT&T; have sought a major alliance with one another.