Telecommunication Act Of 1996

The Federal Communications Commission barred regional Bell companies US West Inc. and Ameritech Corp. from marketing long-distance service on behalf of upstart carrier Qwest Communications International Inc., saying the Bells' arrangements to collect fees for referring their local customers to Qwest violate the 1996 Telecommunications Act. Under the act, Baby Bells may not offer long-distance services directly until they open their local networks to competitors.

The Federal Communications Commission barred regional Bell companies US West Inc. and Ameritech Corp. from marketing long-distance service on behalf of upstart carrier Qwest Communications International Inc., saying the Bells' arrangements to collect fees for referring their local customers to Qwest violate the 1996 Telecommunications Act. Under the act, Baby Bells may not offer long-distance services directly until they open their local networks to competitors.

In most neighborhoods and public areas, finding a pay phone is not difficult. And when you find one, the cost of a local call usually is just 20 cents. Cellular phones may have status, but millions of Americans every day turn to that workhorse so common across the country, the pay phone.