TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

MCI Steps Up Battle With AT&T;: MCI Communications Corp. has filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission, accusing rival AT&T; of improperly trying to prevent 800-number clients from transferring their business elsewhere. MCI said such actions by AT&T; would violate new FCC rules designed to make the 800-number industry more competitive by giving companies a 90-day window, starting May 1, to switch their number to a different carrier without penalty. A spokesman for AT&T; said the company was not making such threats.