Philadelphia-based Bell Atlantic Corp has asked the Justice Department to support the lifting of barriers that block regional telephone companies from expanding into long-distance service; it asked for swift approval so it can complete a $33,000m merger with the largest US cable operator Tele-Communications Inc and Liberty Media later this year; Bell’s and Tele-Communications’ goal is to build full service video, phone and data networks in Tele-Communications’ cable territory reaching 49 states.
