Prodigy Posts Loss

Prodigy Communications Corp., an Internet service provider, reported a fourth-quarter loss of $72.9 million, or $1.04 a share, including a $929,000 restructuring charge and a $33 million charge to write down assets associated with its Prodigy Biz unit. The firm had a loss of $29.8 million, or 46 cents a share, in the year-earlier period. Prodigy said it expects to post positive cash flow in the first quarter, however, as strategic pacts with SBC Communications, the parent of Pacific Bell, will allow it to focus on digital subscriber line growth and lower its operating costs. An alliance with the phone company helped Prodigy boost the number of customers for high-speed Internet access by 26% in the latest quarter from a year ago, sending revenue surging to $130 million from $54 million.