Baby Bell Bill Clears Hurdle: The Senate...

Baby Bell Bill Clears Hurdle: The Senate Commerce Committee approved a landmark bill allowing the seven regional Bell phone companies to design and manufacture telecommunications equipment. Under the 1984 divestiture decree that compelled American Telephone and Telegraph Co. to spin off the regional Bell companies, they were barred from making telecommunications equipment as well from research and development that would lead to such manufacturing. The Bell companies--Bell Atlantic, Bell South, Southwestern Bell, Nynex, U.S. West, Pacific Telesis and Ameritech--complained that the consent decree did not permit them to develop new products to suit the needs of their customers. The bill is likely to be soon considered by the full Senate.