TECHNOLOGY - Sept. 18, 1996

FCC Rejects Request to Set Aside New Phone Rules: The Federal Communications Commission rejected motions by local telephone companies seeking a delay in the implementation of new phone competition rules. GTE Corp. of Stamford, Conn.; Southern New England Telephone Co. of New Haven, Conn.; and US West Inc. of Englewood, Colo., had asked the FCC to set aside its Aug. 8 rules that require, among other things, that Baby Bells and other local carriers lease space on their phone lines to new rivals at discounts of 17% to 25%. The rejection was expected and sets up a court battle between the agency and several companies it regulates. Both GTE and US West later issued statements saying they had filed appeals to federal courts. In doing so, they join several other local phone companies and the cable-TV industry’s trade association that have challenged the FCC rules in court.