BellSouth Corp. has introduced long-distance services for residential and business customers in Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina.
BellSouth already provides long-distance services in two other states within its nine-state region: Georgia and Louisiana. The Atlanta-based company submitted applications last week to the Federal Communications Commission for long-distance approval in Florida and Tennessee.
BellSouth recently introduced BellSouth Answers, a bundle incorporating on one bill the BellSouth Complete Choice local calling plan with BellSouth Long Distance, data and wireless services.
Under the Telecommunications Act of 1996, BellSouth had to show state and federal regulators its local network is open to competition before it could receive approval to provide long-distance service within its nine-state local territory. BellSouth CEO Duane Ackerman has said the company is on track to obtain long-distance approval in its entire region by the end of the year.
