Phone Firms Told to Post Rates Online

Federal regulators Thursday ordered long-distance phone companies to post prices on the Internet in an effort to give consumers more access to rate information.

AT&T;, MCI WorldCom and Sprint now supply pricing information by filing documents with the Federal Communications Commission, a process the agency wants to phase out. The new rules will make it easier for consumers to compare rates and conditions for various long-distance services, the agency said. Consumer groups have pressed the FCC to do more to control long-distance prices.