Judge Delays Order on Long-Distance

Accepting pleas from the government, AT&T;, MCI and Sprint, U.S. District Judge Joe Kendall of Wichita Falls, Texas, postponed implementation of an order that would have freed at least three regional Bell companies to provide long-distance service. Kendall said he would delay his surprise Dec. 31 ruling overturning key provisions of a 1996 telecommunications law until an appeal by the government and long-distance companies is heard. But Kendall also denied the long-distance companies’ request for an injunction to prevent the Bells from selling or preparing to sell long-distance service. Attorneys on both sides of the issue were studying the seemingly conflicting orders. With the judge’s delay, SBC Communications, US West and Bell Atlantic would be required to abide by key provisions of the 1996 law, just as the other Bells are. Those provisions require all five Bells to open their local phone markets to competitors as a condition of winning federal approval to offer long-distance service.