SBC Cleared to Sell Long Distance in All Its States

SBC Communications Inc. won approval from federal regulators to enter the $7-billion market for long-distance service in the final four states where it lacked permission.

SBC’s application to sell long distance in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin was cleared because the company opened its local networks to competitors, the Federal Communications Commission said. The San Antonio-based carrier already had approval to sell long distance in the rest of its 12-state local-calling region.