Telecom

BellSouth Corp. and other Bells won't be required to cheaply lease to competitors advanced fiber networks that serve apartment buildings, following a Wednesday decision by the Federal Communications Commission.

The FCC voted 4 to 1 that the Bells don't have to provide access to their fiber networks to competitors at wholesale rates if they install them into apartment buildings, including service for small businesses located in residential buildings. The FCC previously ruled that the Bells don't have to cheaply lease fiber networks to single-family homes to encourage them to invest more in this area.

"I don't think that residents living in apartment buildings or housing projects should be shut out of the benefits of communications moving at the speed of light," said FCC Chairman Michael Powell.

Alltel Corp. announced a $140 million deal Wednesday that expands its ownership in five states and into two new wireless properties in Florida and southeastern Ohio.

The agreements were to acquire assets from United States Cellular Corp. and TDS Telecom, the Little Rock-based telecommunications company said.

The increased partnership interests are in seven markets in five states, including Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio and Wisconsin. The new markets are in Fort Pierce and southeastern Ohio