BellSouth seeks long-distance OK for five more states

ATLANTA - BellSouth Corporation asked federal regulators today for permission to sell long-distance service in Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and the Carolinas. <br> <br> The company already has been approved by the Federal Communications Commission to offer the service in Georgia and Louisiana, which it began selling May 24th <br> <br> BellSouth said the application covers eight-point-two million customer lines, or about a third of its network. <br> <br> The F.C.C. has until September 18th to vote on the company&#39;s application. <br> <br> BellSouth is the third of the nation&#39;s four dominant regional Bells to enter the long-distance market under terms outlined by the 1996 law allowing local phone companies to enter the market. <br> <br> Atlanta-based BellSouth still has long-distance applications pending before state regulators in Florida and Tennessee.