US West Seeks OK for Internet, Data Services
US West Inc. asked federal regulators to make it easier for the company to provide high-speed Internet and other data services to customers across its 14-state local phone territory. The company says it needs Federal Communications Commission authority to move Internet and other data traffic across state boundaries and across 27 smaller regulatory subdivisions, called LATAs, that exist within the local phone region. US West and other regional Bell companies historically have been prohibited from transporting phone calls and other communications across both state and LATA boundaries because those services would be considered long-distance. US West wants the FCC to use powers under a 1996 telecommunications law that let the commission remove any regulatory barriers that hinder the development of advanced telecommunications networks.
