OTHER NEWS : MCI to Take $150-Million Charge

MCI Communications Corp. said it will take a fourth-quarter charge of up to that amount primarily to reflect costs associated with its realignment. The charge will also reflect consolidation costs related to MCI’s acquisition of British Telecom North America, a unit of British Telecom, it said. In September, the No. 2 provider of long-distance services in the United States announced a realignment to consolidate its U.S. operations and form a new unit to focus on international alliances and emerging technologies.