Justices Won’t Intervene in Phone Dispute: The...

Justices Won’t Intervene in Phone Dispute: The U.S. Supreme Court declined to block local phone companies from offering computerized information services. As a result of the ruling, a U.S. district court will continue considering petitions from regional phone companies on the issue. Such services were banned as potentially anti-competitive under the agreement governing the breakup of American Telephone & Telegraph in 1984. However, the Justice Department has said that telecommunications competition is so vibrant currently that the ban should be lifted. A final ruling is expected sometime next year.