UTILITIES

PacBell Seeks Increase for High-Speed Data Lines: Saying costs have been higher than expected, Pacific Bell has quietly asked state regulators to double the per-minute rates for high-speed data lines. The San Francisco-based company filed for the increase Dec. 4 for lines in its integrated services digital network, or ISDN. A rate hike would go against the public statements of many phone companies, which have said they were trying to make higher-capacity phone lines affordable. ISDN lines carry data at two to four times the speed of the fastest modems in common use. PacBell says it has nearly 60,000 ISDN lines in homes and businesses. The increase is being considered by the state Public Utilities Commission, which says it has received letters in opposition. The average residential customer would pay about $7 more a month, PacBell spokeswoman Mary Hancock said.