Consumer Group Presses FCC on MCI Merger

WorldCom Inc. should not be allowed to merge with MCI Communications Corp. unless federal regulators receive assurances that the new company will serve residential telephone customers, the Consumers Union said in a letter to the Federal Communications Commission. FCC clearance is the last major regulatory hurdle to the completion of the $37-billion takeover, one of the U.S.’ biggest mergers. The Consumers Union said it’s concerned that the merged company might abandon less lucrative residential phone customers and focus on businesses. The FCC decision is expected later this summer.