TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Time Warner Asks for Help on Ameritech Talks: The New York-based media conglomerate has asked state regulators to intervene in its negotiations with Ameritech Corp. on plans to offer a competing local telephone service. Ameritech, the Baby Bell that provides local phone service for much of the Great Lakes region, is either unable or unwilling to reach an agreement to provide connections on calls from the proposed network, Time Warner Inc. said. An Ameritech spokeswoman said the company was surprised by Time Warner’s complaint. Time Warner filed an application last year with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to offer local telephone service in 37 of Ohio’s 88 counties. The company was granted permission to proceed, but first it must reach interconnection agreements with Ameritech and other Ohio phone companies.