FCC Expected to OK Bell Atlantic Application

The Federal Communications Commission is expected to approve Bell Atlantic Corp.’s application to enter the long-distance phone business in New York state before the end of the month, industry sources say. FCC Chairman William E. Kennard said that the agency expects to complete its review of Bell Atlantic’s application this month but would not otherwise comment on the outcome of the review. New York is the second-biggest telecommunications market behind California, and Bell Atlantic’s entry there could trigger a price war with traditional long-distance carriers such as AT&T; Corp., Sprint Corp. and WorldCom Inc.