FCC Urged to Review SBC Bids

The Justice Department urged U.S. regulators to seek new information about SBC Communications Inc.’s long-distance phone bids in Kansas and Oklahoma, citing anti-competitive prices and computer systems. While the agency declined to make a recommendation, it told the Federal Communications Commission that prices the No. 2 local phone company charges rivals to lease parts of its network may be too high. The FCC also should get more data on computer systems that San Antonio-based SBC uses to process orders from rivals, the agency said. Firms such as SBC are barred from selling long-distance service until they prove local markets are open to competitors. SBC charges “significantly” higher prices in Oklahoma and Kansas when competitors want to rent lines and switches, the Justice Department said. It also questioned whether SBC gives rivals equal access to computer systems used to place and track orders. SBC closed up 81 cents at $53 on Nasdaq.