Justice Department recommends approval for BellSouth long-distance bid

ATLANTA - BellSouth Corporation won a key approval Thursday for its request to offer long-distance service in Georgia and Louisiana. <br> <br> The Justice Department recommended the Federal Communications Commission approve the company&#39;s application, which was submitted February 14. <br> <br> Justice Department lawyer Charles James said, ``The available evidence suggests that generally, BellSouth has succeeded in opening local telecommunications markets in Georgia and Louisiana to competition.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> James is head of the antitrust division. <br> <br> In December, Atlanta-based BellSouth withdrew its previous filing after the Justice Department said the telecommunications giant had not adequately opened its local markets to competition. <br> <br> A company vice president, Herschel Abbott, said the announcement was confirmation that BellSouth&#39;s application addressed competitors&#39; concerns about access. <br> <br> The FCC is expected to rule on the application by May. <br> <br> BellSouth is the third of the four major regional Bell companies to seek permission to sell long distance.