ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, March 29, 1996 TAG: 9603290068
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS STAFF WRITER
Cox Communications Inc. of Atlanta has filed an application with the State Corporation Commission to provide local telephone service in the Roanoke Valley and Tidewater.
But don't expect Cox, already the primary seller of cable television service in those two areas, to be competing for Roanoke Valley phone customers for at least two years. Filing of the application is similar to driving a stake in the ground during a land rush, Cox spokesman Dave Andersen said Thursday. "It shows the world we're going to do this."
Cox plans to offer local phone service in some major markets around the country first, Andersen said. Those markets include Tidewater.
Before long, he said, Roanoke Valley residents may see Cox constructing some of the equipment needed to provide local phone service.
Cox is one of several companies that have filed applications with the SCC to provide local telephone service in Virginia to compete with existing companies such as Bell Atlantic.
The Virginia General Assembly last year opened local service in the state to competition with a law that became effective on Jan.1. In doing so, the state moved ahead of Congress, which passed similar law on Feb.1, allowing telecommunications companies into each other's businesses, including local phone service.
The SCC has public hearings scheduled for April 30 on separate applications by MCI Corp. of Washington, D.C., and MFS Communications Co. of Omaha, Neb., to provide local phone service in Virginia. MCI wants permission to provide services throughout the state and MFS is interested in serving businesses and governments.
AT&T filed an application Feb. 29 to provide local phone service throughout Virginia.
Also filing to provide long-distance phone service in Virginia were Cox; United Telephone-Southeast of Wake Forest, N.C.; Central Telephone Co. of Virginia of Wake Forest, N.C., and LCI International Worldwide of McLean.
Bell Atlantic also is expected to file an application to offer long-distance service once it meets conditions set forth in the new federal law.
LENGTH: Short : 47 linesby CNB