Regulators approve standards for BellSouth long distance

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - The Tennessee Regulatory Authority has unanimously adopted benchmarks aimed at measuring whether BellSouth has opened its system to competitors in a nondiscriminatory way. <br> <br> Under federal law, Atlanta-based BellSouth and similar phone companies may offer long-distance service only after federal regulators are satisfied they have sufficiently given local-service competitors access to their networks. <br> <br> Federal regulators will decide on BellSouth&#39;s case after the TRA evaluates BellSouth&#39;s access to competitors in Tennessee. <br> <br> In moving to approve his proposed standards Tuesday, TRA director Lynn Greer said they also would help deter possible ``backsliding&#39;&#39; by BellSouth if the company gets approval for long-distance service. <br> <br> The standards include enforcement mechanisms and benchmarks for tracking performance. For example, BellSouth must keep 99 percent of the repair appointments requested by competitors. <br> <br> The vote was 3-0. The TRA sets the rates and service standards of privately owned telephone, natural gas, electric and water utilities. <br> <br> BellSouth has spent years seeking permission to offer long-distance service, which has been granted to other telephone companies. Just Monday, long-distance carrier MCI announced a flat-fee plan for unlimited local and long-distance residential service.